Highbridge Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, May 24, 2007

First Mountain Bike Trail In NYC Opens At Highbridge Park

Daniel Avila

Volunteers were joined by Commissioner Adrian Benepe, City Parks Foundation Executive Director David Rivel, representatives from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), New York City Mountain Biking Association (NYCMTB), and the Green Apple Corps to cut the ribbon on the BMX – Highbridge Park Mountain Bike Trails. The three-mile trail system was created with help from thousands of volunteer hours, and is unprecedented in an urban center like New York City.

Highbridge Park now offers cross-country, free-ride and dirt jump/BMX trails.

The new trail system includes a challenge trail for younger or newer riders. The project also includes the development and installation of trailhead kiosks, trail markers and interpretive signage, natural resources monitoring, landscaping material to replant denuded areas, trail building tools, and educational pamphlets that advocate safety and environmental stewardship.

In addition to the dedicated efforts of volunteers and Parks staff, the Highbridge Park Mountain Bike Trails were built through the combined support of Parks & Recreation, NYCMTB, IMBA, and the Concerned Long Island Bicyclists (CLIMB), with $100,000 in funding from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

"The Highbridge Park Mountain Bike Trails project is a pivotal one in the history of mountain biking" said New York City Mountain Biking Association President Jamie Bogner. "Never before has a mix of cross country, freeride and dirt jump trails been built in the middle of a city the size of New York City."

Just as soon as we cut the ribbon on the City’s first mountain biking trail, we are soon going to cut the second! Join us on Saturday, May 26 at 10:00 a.m. to celebrate the new trail at Cunningham Park in Queens.

"For myself I am an optimist –

it does not seem to be much use being anything else."

(1874 – 1965)