Seven years later, Auburn Bike Park nears completion

After a seven-year process, the Auburn bike park is nearing completion. The 5-acre park, located right off of Maidu Drive near the Canyon View Community Center, will feature a pump track, a strider track, a technical trail, an access trail and a jump course, according to Kahl Muscott, Auburn Recreation District (ARD) district administrator. Initially, bike riders were riding in an area that was owned by Union Pacific Railroad until they were advised they could no longer utilize that space. It was then that the need for a bike park was realized, Muscott said. To date, the total cost of the bike park is $544,000. Since 2014, contributions to aid with the costs have come from city of Auburn Park Mitigation funds, Placer County Park Mitigation funds, community fundraising, small grants, ARD Reserves and the General fund, according to Muscott. Although there is no set date, ARD hopes the park will be open to the community in mid to late March once the first part of phase one of development is complete, Muscott said. Phase one includes the development of the pump track, strider track and several trails. The pump track is a dirt course with a series of bumps and turns that allows riders of various experience to complete laps by using their bodies to control the bike without pedaling. The strider track is a smaller course for the little ones to practice their skills on a pedal-less bike. There will also be several trails for various skill levels, including a dual trail where riders can race each other. Phase two, which will be across the canal, will include a jump course. This course will have three lanes of three jumps that get progressively bigger. There will also be a bridge built for riders to access the jump course once its ready for use, according to Muscott. Work on both phases will be continued after the bike park officially opens. There were concerns regarding an influx of traffic, possible fires, and whether trails would remain for equestrians with the addition of the bike park. However, ARD has mitigated most of the community's concerns, according to Muscott. A bypass trail has been constructed for people to avoid the bike park if desired, and there will be a dedicated trail for equestrians further down the hill. "We've gone through the environmental review process and mitigated out most of the concerns that everyone had," Muscott said. "We think it's going to be a great community project." According to Muscott, ARD hopes the addition of the bike park will not only be fun for the community but also educational. "Hopefully, it gets kids outside, and we're really blessed in this area having the natural beauty of the canyon," Muscott said. "Kids and adults can come out and practice their skills while playing and having fun at the Auburn Bike Park. We're hoping it's a great experience for everyone involved." According to Muscott, there is strong community support behind the development of the bike park. With their help, significant progress has been made with the development efforts. "We're excited and grateful for the participation we're getting from the community, and we're excited that this project is close to being done and we can present it to the community," Muscott said.