McKay Community Forest Bike Park
FOSTERING A COMMUNITY SPACE ON WHEELS
A larger version of the bike skills map can be found here.
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Introducing a bike park in a small community can have a transformative impact on the social, economic, and physical well-being of its residents. They serve as a hub for community engagement, bringing together residents of all ages and backgrounds in a shared space for recreation and social interaction. The presence of a bike park promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging physical activity and outdoor play, contributing to the overall well-being of community members. Additionally, a bike park can foster a sense of belonging and pride among residents, creating a shared space that reflects the interests and needs of the community.
Today’s kids and young adults spend dramatically less time outdoors than generations prior, and children’s physical health indicators and involvement in sports have declined at staggering rates. In Humboldt County, there is a shortage of safe, fun, and accessible places for kids, especially those who are middle-school aged, to enjoy spending time outdoors. The development of a community bike park can play an important role in addressing these problems by providing safe, self-contained spaces for exciting and engaging experiences for children of all ages.
In addition to the benefits to physical health, the development of a bike park can have significant benefits for tourism. It is not uncommon for successful bike parks to draw in hundreds or even thousands of visitors each month, particularly during peak seasons or events. Bike parks attract visitors from outside the local area who are looking for unique biking experiences. This influx of tourists can boost local tourism revenue, support businesses such as bike shops, cafes, and accommodations, and create a more vibrant local economy. Additionally, bike parks can enhance the overall appeal of a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, drawing in visitors who may stay longer and spend more money in the community. Having a world-class bike park facility can also aid in recruitment and retention of professionals to our area, including for physicians and other caregivers, which our community desperately needs.
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The McKay Community Forest Bike Park project is located in the Greater Eureka area within the County of Humboldt (County). The project area is managed by the County of Humboldt and is included in their McKay Community Forest Trails Master Plan. RCMBA has a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the County to fund, design, and build the bike park. RCMBA and Sensus RAD Trails (Sensus) have completed the conceptual plan, which includes a proposed $185,000 budget, and is now undertaking the remaining funding aspect.
The almost 5-acre portion of the community forest property has been professionally designed by Sensus. Sensus, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, works with communities, municipalities, and other builders to develop, expand, and construct bicycle-oriented facilities in locations such as the Truckee Bike Park in Truckee, California; the Eureka Mountain Bike Park in Eureka, Missouri; Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and numerous other areas.
The McKay Community Bike Park is a compact, community-scale park that is designed for riders of all ages and skill levels. A special skill-building area for beginners and several easier runs ensure the park is welcoming to everyone. By offering a variety of tracks, trails and obstacles, the McKay Community Bike Park will support skill development and encourage riders to push their limits in a safe and controlled environment.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The McKay Community Bike Park is estimated to cost approximately $185,000. Apart from the cost of Sensus RAD Trails’ labor to construct the McKay Community Bike Park, over half of the cost is materials, equipment, and transportation. Materials needed include, but are not limited to, lumber, dirt (sandy clay loam), gravel, culverts, concrete, picnic benches, roofing materials for the kiosk, signage, and metal for ramps and other features on the trail. In addition, the budget includes rental costs for equipment, fuel for that equipment, and transportation costs for delivering materials to the site. RCMBA is seeking help from the community via financial assistance, business partnerships, material or equipment rental donations or discounts, and volunteers to help in fundraising, writing grants, clearing trail, building trail, and just spreading the word.
SPONSORSHIP
We are offering different tiers of sponsorship for the McKay Community Bike Park. Each level only has a certain number of spaces available, first come, first serve. All sponsorship levels listed below receive the following benefits:
Sponsor name on Bike Park kiosk.
Reserved space to setup promo tent/table at ribbon cutting ceremony
Sponsor name/logo/link displayed on RCMBA website.
Social media exposure (Facebook/Instagram).
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Available: 2
Recognition on trail entrance signage as title sponsor of the McKay Community Bike Park.
Prominent signage at the centrally located Launch Pad for most of the trails in the park.
Sponsor name/logo prominently displayed as Title Sponsor on the Bike Park kiosk.
Story submission to local newspaper on grand opening.
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Available: 4
Prominent display of sponsor name/logo at the Trail entrance along with the Title Sponsor.
Story submission to local newspaper on grand opening.
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Available: 10
Board or sign with sponsor name/logo placed prominently on a bike park feature.
boards for bikes
If you as an individual, family, or a small business can’t afford the above options but would still like to have recognition for your contribution, there is a cheaper option of purchasing a board for a bike feature and having your name prominently etched into the board. These boards will be used as decking or railing on the Launch Pad, ramps or any other features that are built using dimensional lumber.
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The Launch Pad will be a point of congregation within the Bike Park where people will set off on the jump trails, and thus your contribution may be more readily seen and appreciated over other trail features. We will be utilizing some of the existing tree stumps in the park for at least two separate Launch Pads.
Available: 60
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To be placed on a ramp, skinny, drop, or any other ridden feature built with dimensional lumber.
Available: 60
A similar Launch Pad feature found in Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville, Arkansas. Multiple trails start from this one structure.