Skills Park Work Party (Tomorrow)…

The next Boy Scout work party is tomorrow (thurs, july 16, 6:00 pm at mcf skills park) to build log piles and lay out gravel paths through the sand between obstacles. The drop jumps are done, the skinnies with the rock nodes are done, 2 teeter-totters are now tottering, two benches are installed, and generally a good time is at hand. If you want to help, bring your bike as well as your favorite shovel and garden rake; there will be plenty of time to ride after the work is done, I think. Be sure to thank Matthew Zawisza — this is his Eagle Scout project and he has done a terrific job.  
Also, note the new kiosk under construction at the parking lot. That’s Rusty LaRose’s Eagle project, which will be a big improvement for communications at the trail head. Great job, guys!!! (and your dads!)  BTW, if you haven’t found it yet, the Midland City Forest mountain bike skills park is in the clearing behind the sliding hill and south toboggan tower. 
This will finish Matt’s responsibility for his Eagle. Shaping the pump track will be the responsibility of the MMBA chapter and our recruits. I’ve got it “excavated” with my tractor and we are waiting for the city’s clay pit to dry out enough that they can deliver the dirt, then there will be a lot of hand work sculpting the bumps and turns.

-Jim “subgeeze” Crissman

Who’s In?

Lumber, tools and clay…it’s time to play!  We have been salvaging lumber, sourcing dirt and rocks, tweaking the design, prepping the site and now it’s time to kick off the Midland City Forest Skills Park build!  Who’s in?  I will start a thread soon in the Northeast Chapter forum for discussions to take place, help us gauge the volunteer base and post the dates/times of the work parties.

When you have a chance, check out the short documentary about the construction of the Colonnade Bike Park under the I5 highway in Seattle.  Of course, this project is slightly larger than ours  ;)  however, it will inspire you, as we look to kick-off our project.

Colonnade Bike Park in Seattle, WA

Pump Track Action!

Our skills park will include a Lee McCormack designed pump track.  Pat’s Gradall is delivering 50 yards of dirt (with high clay content), very soon.  Got muscles?…We will need you!  Not sure of what a pump track is?…Check this out…

Stay tuned to the forum for details. Get involved.

Mountain Bike Skills Park (Teaser)

 

Mountain Bike Skills Park Concept

We are very close to kicking off the latest addition to the Northeast Chapter mountain bike offerings, a Skills Park at Midland City Forest.  The park will include beginner and intermediate level mountain bike features designed to improve your balance and bike handling skills.  It will be located behind the rear toboggan tower, in an unused, rectangular shaped, grassy clearing. Features will include: dirt jumps, drops, skinnies, log rides/piles, teeter-totters, rocks and a Lee McCormack designed pump track.  This will be the only publicly accessible mountain bike skills park in the Northeast Chapter region (that I know of).  Volunteers will be needed to efficiently build this park, so that we can start riding it as soon as possible.  A portion of this project will be completed thanks to the leadership of area Boy Scout, Matthew Zawisza, earning him an Eagle merit.

Materials for this project will mostly consist of recycled lumber, re-ground concrete, donated scrap rough sawn cedar and other donated items.  If you have or know of other (free) materials that could be used in the build, please contact thadhallberg[at]gmail[dot]com.  Galvanized fasteners and bagged concrete will be needed, as well.

The skills park design has gone through a few rounds of revisions.  Ideas for the current design are based on features seen while researching similar parks.  Some details could change slightly during the construction phase.  If you have some expertise in designing or constructing bike skills features, please volunteer some time, to help us get this right!  Work days will be announced soon.

IMBA calls Skills Parks the “gateway” feature at mountain bike areas.  It helps to introduce younger riders to the sport.  They hone their skills on the jumps and skinnies, then venture out into the nearby trail systems.  I think that the Skills Park will be a great addition to our mountain biking lineup (for all ages).  MMBA Northeast Chapter will be responsible for its maintenance and upkeep.  Please help us in this effort!  Pick up your trash, report damaged features, report or thwart any malicious destruction, ride smart, wear a helmet and other necessary gear, be aware of other riders, etc.  We are fortunate to have the City of Midland’s approval for this project.  Let’s keep the door open for future opportunities.  Thanks!

Feel free to leave any comments below.