Grand Forks will soon have a new bike skills park, offering mountain bikers a space to practice and train new riders, after the City Council voted in favor of a proposal to establish the park.
The Kettle River Cycling Association (KRCA) presented the request to the City Council on March 17 during the regular meeting. The proposed park will be located next to the BMX track on the west end of City Park. Colin Lee-Mitchell, secretary of the KRCA, and Don Backmeyer, Trails Manager for the Grand Forks Trails Association, shared the plans and explained the need for the park.
The proposal includes constructing the park, removing two buildings on the site, and re-establishing a stewardship agreement for the area, which Lee-Mitchell said the association is working on renewing.
“The park will provide a safe and fun environment to help new mountain bike enthusiasts build their skills,” Lee-Mitchell said. The park will feature obstacles like drops, rollers, and jumps, designed to boost confidence and challenge riders.
The location, which is situated on a floodplain, is ideal for this type of development. Since it cannot be used for housing, it will be perfect for bike trails. The site currently has two vacant buildings from a former residence, both of which will need to be removed to make room for the trails and obstacles. A shed on the property will remain to store tools and equipment.
“Currently, we store our tools at private residences, as does the Trails Society and the BMX Club,” Lee-Mitchell noted.
“Having a central location to store tools would be a great benefit for all of us.”
The trees currently on the property will be preserved as part of the park’s development.
Lee-Mitchell emphasized the importance of the park in providing an easily accessible location for people to try mountain biking. “To access trails in places like Christina Lake or Stewart’s Creek, bikers need a vehicle, and the trails can be remote and difficult to reach. A local park would make it easy for people to develop their skills close to home,” he said. The new park would complement the existing BMX track, making the entire area more attractive to cyclists.
The KRCA will oversee the design and construction of the park, with local schools already on board to help students develop their skills and contribute volunteer hours needed for graduation. The BMX Club has also offered to help build the park, and companies like Interfor have shown interest in providing materials and donations.
The KRCA will also take on the responsibility of maintaining the property, relieving the city of this duty.
During the meeting, Councillor David Mark raised concerns about security. He suggested the shed should be reinforced to prevent theft and vandalism, which Lee-Mitchell assured was part of the plan.
As the park will be located next to the BMX track, Councillor Zak Eburne-Stoodley asked whether the KRCA had consulted with the BMX Club to ensure the park would not interfere with their events. Lee-Mitchell confirmed that he had spoken with the BMX Club president, who is supportive of the park. The new park will complement the weekly races held in spring and summer, providing an additional space for BMX riders to practice before their events.
The City Council passed a resolution to move forward with an agreement for the park, with city staff working alongside the KRCA to finalize details such as insurance, costs, maintenance, and a new stewardship agreement. The previous agreement expired in February 2024.
While Councillor Zielinski proposed that the support be granted in principle to account for any major changes, this was rejected in a vote. Mayor Everett Baker, along with Councillors Mark, Eburne-Stoodley, Lafleur, and Krog, voted in favor, while Zielinski voted against. Councillor Christine Thompson was absent.