Trail Flow is a roundup of all the mountain bike trail related news of the week including new trail builds, advocacy, and planning. Do you have trail news? Email [email protected] for possible inclusion.
ORA Community Trail Farm moving ahead thanks to $1.15 million grant to purchase 300 acres
La Crosse, Wisconsin
The Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA Trails) has been advocating for trail access and collaborating on projects in the La Crosse, Wisconsin, area for over 20 years. On May 10th, they announced one of their biggest wins to date: the award of a $1.15 million “stewardship grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program to the Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA Trails) for the acquisition of the primary parcel of the ORA Community Trail Farm,” according to ORA Trails. The Community Trail Farm project has been in the works for many years and will be moving ahead thanks to these necessary funds, which will be used to acquire a 300-acre parcel of land.
This beautiful acreage is located in the La Crosse Blufflands along the banks of Pammel Creek. The Trail Farm will form “part of the Bluffland Traverse Trail, playing a major role in further connecting over 100 miles of existing trails in the Coulee Region,” according to ORA Trails. In addition, the Community Trail Farm will also be home to 15 miles of brand-new, world-class trails.
Waltons purchase 2,700 acres of land so Bella Vista doesn’t get left out of MTB development
Bella Vista, Arkansas
More trails are coming to the mountain biking hotspot of Northwest Arkansas thanks to the purchase of 2,700 acres of land for an undisclosed amount of money. Learn more in our recent article.
Mountain bikers left out of $4 million trail project in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland Parks & Recreation recently announced a new $4 million recreational trail project in Rose City Park. However, mountain bikers are currently being excluded from even the planning stages of the project, Bike Portland reports. The “online survey to gauge public feedback on the project doesn’t include cycling among the seven answers to a question that asked respondents to share the types of activities they’d be most likely to engage in on the new trail,” writes Jonathan Maus.
While disappointing, this isn’t necessarily surprising in a city that is renowned for being anti-mountain bike. Singletracks has been covering the uphill battle of Portland mountain biking advocates for years, including this 2015 protest.
13-year legal battle over MTB trail in Netherlands concludes
Schoorl, Netherlands
A 13-year legal battle over a mountain bike trail in Schoorl, Netherlands, has finally been concluded. The end result—which is now irrevocable—allows mountain bikers to continue using the trail and to finish construction of a reroute that was started in 2011.
Vote for trail names in Virginia Canyon Trail System
Idaho Springs, Colorado
A lift-served bike park is currently under construction in Idaho Springs, Colorado, and residents can now vote on names for the new trails in this 12-mile trail system. Phase 1, an uphill climbing route, was completed in 2022. Phase 2 is currently under construction, and the $634,000 build-out “will be paid for with a $359,087 funding grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, in addition to a $250,000 grant from Trek bikes,” according to Chris Koeberl of the Clear Creek Courant.
$99,000 for new trails in New York
Caroga, New York
The town of Caroga, New York, has received a $99,000 grant for an expansion of the Wheelerville Trails. The project is “about widening some of the trails and improving the accessibility for different types of riders, particularly beginner- and intermediate-level riders,” according to a quote by Jeremy Manning in The Leader Herald. Total cost for the project is projected to be $153,000.
Public comment requested for new trail in Australia
Strathbogie, Victoria, Australia
A 13.9-kilometer mountain bike trail is proposed at Balmattum Preserve in Strathbogie, Australia, and the local government is seeking public comment.
New bike park coming to Central Alberta
Lac La Biche, Alberta
Lac La Biche County held an open house to get public input on a new mountain bike park planned for Alexander Hamilton Park. The trails will be bike-only and will serve riders with a wide variety of difficulty levels. They will contain jumps, wooden features, and more. The County plans to break ground on the new trails in July and complete them by fall. (Source)
Outdoor Alliance urges lawmakers to fully fund recreation budgets
United States
The Outdoor Alliance, which includes IMBA, is urging the federal government to fully fund outdoor recreation budgets for the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Despite steady recreation growth over the last 15 years, funding for recreation has decreased 20% over that same time period.
The Outdoor Alliance “asked Congress to fund BLM’s Recreation Resources Management program at $100 million and the Forest Service’s Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness at $70 million, with additional funding for staffing — increases that will return these agencies to more sustainable funding levels from Congress in the past,” according to a press release. You can also ask your local congress-person to fund these programs with this easy-to-use form.
The first MTB trail in Benton, Arkansas is opening May 24th
Benton, Arkansas
Benton, Arkansas—not to be confused with Bentonville—is opening its first-ever mountain bike trail tomorrow, May 24th. This new facility, simply known as “Benton Bike Park,” is a progressive bike park with a skills course, downhill trail, dual slalom, and multi-use perimeter trail. Learn more in our recent article.
Electric Hills Trail System is finished and ready to ride
Montrose, Colorado
The brand-new 17-mile Electric Hills Trail System in Montrose, Colorado, is officially finished and ready to ride! The final trails were completed at the very end of the 2023 season, and those final trails just opened for the first time on April 15th. Learn more about this incredible new trail development in our recent article.
0 Comments