Oakley’s new bike park opens Saturday with beginner trails and family amenities

Photo: South Summit Trails Foundation // Howard Sorensen

OAKLEY, Utah — A $750,000 expansion of Oakley’s bike park will open Saturday morning, adding beginner-friendly trails and visitor amenities that community members specifically requested.

The South Summit Trails Foundation will hold a grand opening at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 24, featuring donuts and beverages for visitors wanting to explore the new facilities.

Howard Sorensen, vice president of the South Summit Trails Foundation who headed the project, said the expansion took shape after extensive community input two years ago.

“We met two years ago with a cross-section of 30 people from across the Kamas Valley gathering input what the Park needed in phase 2,” Sorensen said. “Mothers came back and said ‘we need shade and somewhere to use the restroom and preferably able to get a drink’. A beginner rider said ‘I need somewhere with easier trails than phase one’, and advanced riders said ‘we need drop lines and a nice jump line’.”

The new phase includes beginner trails named Mutton, Buster, Yee Haw and the Perimeter Loop.

A new pavilion provides flush toilets, running water and seating for more than 50 people. The expansion also features a pump track and a trail called Boulderville designed to help riders develop skills navigating steps and rocks.

Two new skill courses include features such as skinnies, small drops and a teeter totter.

“Everyone from the focus group says this is exactly what we needed and they are so excited to use the park tomorrow,” Sorensen said.

Funding for the project came from multiple sources, including Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant, Vail Promise Grant, Park City RAP tax Grant, $150,000 from local donors and $180,000 in donated labor and materials from local contractors.

“It has been a great combined local effort with hundreds of volunteer hours,” Sorensen said.

The project took two years to complete from initial planning to opening. The bike park is located at 5600 Pinion Ln. Oakley, Utah.

 

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