After the kids got off the bus Friday, it was a beeline straight to Burlington’s new bike park for Jeremy O’Clatis.”We came last night for opening day, and the kids woke up this morning and were begging to come back after school today,” O’Clatis said. “We’re happy to be here.”Right in his backyard, the park, which just opened its trails on Thursday, features beginner flow trails and a jump line for mountain bikers of all ages and skill sets.”I think this is going to be an everyday thing moving forward,” O’Clatis said.It is all accessible right off Burlington’s existing bike path at Leddy Park.”If you like adventures on two wheels, you can’t beat it,” O’Clatis said.The people who built it say it has been a long road to make it happen. A decade of planning and building is finally paying off as the city of Burlington continues to promote safe outdoor recreation.”I could imagine it in my head, but then I come here and it’s better,” said Sean Melinn with the Burlington Bike Park Coalition.Something avid bikers say the state of Vermont needs more of, especially for the people here for an education.”Especially for those early years for students where maybe transportation is a little bit more limited, this is going to be a great outlet for those people trying to get into the sport,” said Johan Shattuck, a junior at the University of Vermont.Dozens took a ride over to the park Friday to let loose on the new trails and try out a trick or two.This is only phase one of the finished product. The Bike Park Coalition says there will be plenty more to explore in the years to come.”If I just wanted some dirt jumps, I’d build one in my backyard and be done with it,” Melinn said. “But we worked as a group to give this to the community, and now it is the community’s.”An opening ceremony will be held Oct. 25.
After the kids got off the bus Friday, it was a beeline straight to Burlington’s new bike park for Jeremy O’Clatis.
“We came last night for opening day, and the kids woke up this morning and were begging to come back after school today,” O’Clatis said. “We’re happy to be here.”
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Right in his backyard, the park, which just opened its trails on Thursday, features beginner flow trails and a jump line for mountain bikers of all ages and skill sets.
“I think this is going to be an everyday thing moving forward,” O’Clatis said.
It is all accessible right off Burlington’s existing bike path at Leddy Park.
“If you like adventures on two wheels, you can’t beat it,” O’Clatis said.
The people who built it say it has been a long road to make it happen. A decade of planning and building is finally paying off as the city of Burlington continues to promote safe outdoor recreation.
“I could imagine it in my head, but then I come here and it’s better,” said Sean Melinn with the Burlington Bike Park Coalition.
Something avid bikers say the state of Vermont needs more of, especially for the people here for an education.
“Especially for those early years for students where maybe transportation is a little bit more limited, this is going to be a great outlet for those people trying to get into the sport,” said Johan Shattuck, a junior at the University of Vermont.
Dozens took a ride over to the park Friday to let loose on the new trails and try out a trick or two.
This is only phase one of the finished product. The Bike Park Coalition says there will be plenty more to explore in the years to come.
“If I just wanted some dirt jumps, I’d build one in my backyard and be done with it,” Melinn said. “But we worked as a group to give this to the community, and now it is the community’s.”
An opening ceremony will be held Oct. 25.
