ROCK SPRINGS – Years of planning and development are finally coming to fruition as construction begins on a bike park in Rock Springs. Once complete, the bike park will encompass almost nine acres of city land.

Tony Colbert, a local cycling enthusiast, is spearheading the volunteer effort for individuals interested in helping build the park. Colbert, who has been involved in cycling for over 30 years, is the founding member of Trail Alliance, a local cycling club dedicated to creating more cycling opportunities and ensuring cycling is a viable option for our community.

Colbert, and other Trail Alliance members, has been working together for years with Mark Lyon, Superintendent of Parks for the City of Rock Springs to find an appropriate place to build a bike park. “Many spots were considered,” Colbert said, “Each time, a plot of city property was studied, a bigger and better location was uncovered.”

The final spot, located to the south of the Family Recreation Center, was approved in 2010, after public meetings were held. The basic layout of the park was agreed upon and submitted to the City’s Planning and Zoning Department, Colbert said. “The first spot we looked at was less than an acre,” he explained, “It has been amazing to see what is out there.”

“Mark (Lyon) has worked tirelessly to ensure our community has access to a diverse and well maintained park system,” Colbert stated. “In addition, Dave Lansang, Director of Parks & Recreation for the City, is driven to fulfill the City’s mission by doing his utmost to ‘enhance the quality of life in Rock Springs.’”

Colbert said he, Lyon, Lansang, and many others saw the need for a dedicated place for bikes. “Our city officials saw the importance of a bike park for the community with the knowledge that it would require input and help from volunteers to be constructed properly.

Trail Alliance, and others with a similar vision, understood the need for proper access and planning,” Colbert stated.

The park design revolves around dirt jumps; but will provide something for everyone, according to Colbert. The first phase of the park provides for a wide stable-surface perimeter trail for cyclists of all abilities. In addition, it will be useful for patrons wanting to walk and push a stroller or children with training wheels on their bike, Colbert explained. A large skills area will also be featured at the park. It will be a place where riders can work to improve their bike handling skills and techniques.

Also included in the bike park plans are two pump tracks and three dirt jump lines. “A pump track is a place where riders can pump and work their way around the track without pedaling. They use gravity and momentum to navigate from beginning to end,” said Colbert.

“We will also have beginner, intermediate and expert jump lines – something for everyone to enjoy. This park will be for young and intermediate bike riders, for families, bike groups and youth groups,” Colbert explained.

Bike park development will strive to have the least amount of impact on the natural landscape and provide for a diverse park for all users, said Colbert. “I hope this park will be an ‘outdoor experience’. The topography of the bike park will highlight existing landscapes and be as natural as possible. In the future, I want to get signs to explain more about the unique flora and animals in this area,” Colbert explained.

Current work on the park has been slow and steady, according to Lansang. The area has been fenced in to keep the site in its natural state. A local company, Wylie Construction, will begin installing water lines for dust control and future maintenance. “Extensive dirt work won’t begin until dust control measures are in place,” Lansang said. “The bike park is adjacent to one row of residential housing. We designed the layout to have more passive features next to the housing and are being ‘good neighbors’ by having a larger buffer than required between the park and their fence lines.”

In the meantime, Colbert is asking for help getting the site cleaned up and for final input on the dirt jumps. A meeting is planned for Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 11 am at the Family Recreation Center. Anyone who would like to be involved in the construction of the park is encouraged to attend. If unable to make the meeting, interested members of the community should contact the Family Recreation Center for details on upcoming meetings and volunteer efforts.

“Local riders have built dirt jumps time and again only to see their efforts bulldozed over either for expansion of building projects or lack of permission from landowners. This has been the ‘cycle’ of dirt jumping zones in our community and many like ours across the nation for years. This is a chance for all of us to come together and finally make a bike park happen,” Colbert stated.

Colbert said he has already had several people offer their assistance, including one local business, Century Equipment. “When it comes time to do dirt work and build jumps, they will let us use their equipment at no charge,” he explained. “I’m not the first guy to work on this. There has been a long line of people who are passionate about cycling and want to see more opportunities in our community,” Colbert said. “I hope to find even more volunteers to offer their expertise.”