The City of Nanaimo has announced that a new mountain bike skills park has opened up nearby to the Steve Smith Bike Park along Labieux Road.
According to a release sent out by the city, the new mountain bike park consists of “family-friendly trail options for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders.”
The park’s aim is to be a centralized place for riders to build skills and develop riding on single track trails, says Nanaimo. The park also offers features that allow practice tricks and bike-on obstacles such as bridges, rocks, and rails. Riders will find a progressive drop section and plank rides in the park as well.
The park is meant to serve as a stepping-stone and a place for mountain bikers to hone their skillsets before exploring the many levels of mountain biking trails scattered throughout the region.
Ideas for the park came through a public process after building it was identified as a priority back in 2015, Nanaimo says. After gathering the public’s opinion, the designs were then refined through charrettes in 2016.
The City of Nanaimo says that the Gyro Club as well as many members of local bike clubs were also consulted during the brainstorming stages.
A parcel of funding for the new mountain bike park came through the Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation.
“This new mountain bike skills park is a great place for mountain bikers of all levels to experience and gain skills before heading out into some of the other mountain biking trails found in Nanaimo,” said Tony Clift, Trail Supervisor with the City of Nanaimo.
“It is a great asset to the biking community of Nanaimo and a great addition to the biking amenities found at Beban Park. The City is grateful to everyone who contributed – individuals, businesses and the financial support from the Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation.”
City officials are referring to the new space as a “progressive skills park to help newer and more experienced riders gain skills and confidence.
The park has been open to the public for a couple of weeks and Nanaimo said it has already proven to be a popular compliment to the Steve Smith Bike Park, all located in Beban Park.
Graham Cox
