The Combined Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held a regular meeting on Aug.1, at which it heard a proposal from DUST2 representative Driz Cook for a new bike skills park to be built at Yamaguchi Park South.
Pagosa Springs Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis explained that the area where the skills park is being proposed is south of the pickleball courts and the new town dog park, beyond the land that is designated for a multipurpose pavilion “if that comes to fruition.”
“It’s really the last area that I can develop unless something changes with the proposed sanitation building that could possibly go on down there,” he said. “There’s a really large pile of dirt down there that I need to do something with.”
Lewis also explained that the proposal is to use funds from the Conservation Trust Fund, with half being provided by the Town of Pagosa Springs and the other half being provided by the county.
Cook explained that there are different types of bike parks that include downhill parks, pump tracks and skills parks. Downhill parks are usually at ski areas where riders can take a lift up and ride down on a course that has berms, jumps and other features. Pump tracks are usually loops built for learning how to pump and use momentum to move the bike without pedaling.
Cook noted that Pagosa Springs has a small pump track located by the skate park in Yamaguchi Park, but mentioned that there is no signage and most people “don’t really know what to do there.”
Cook explained that a skills course park simulates aspects of technical mountain bike trail riding by teaching balance and coordination at slower speeds compared to downhill or jump line parks.
Cook proposed constructing a skills bike park to “provide a place to learn these skills within a contained and safe area.”
Cook explained that there are two bike parks near Pagosa — in Farmington, N.M., and in Durango — which both offer more extreme features, noting that Mesa Park in Durango currently being constructed will be the largest bike park in the country.
Cook added that he has more than 20 years of mountain biking experience building parks and trails, and that, in his opinion, “Most bike parks are overbuilt and underutilized.”
Cook explained that Pagosa needs a bike park for people to be able to learn skills that will help them build confidence to ride in “real-world conditions” on trails. This includes features like switchbacks, ruts, rock slabs, narrow sections and twisting turns.
Cook added that there are not many technical trails around the Pagosa area and that when folks travel to go mountain biking, “we’re not prepared.”
He indicated that the proposal is to have a skills park with 10 features that is designed with a “loop” route allowing riders to circle the course. The park will use natural materials such as railroad ties, rocks and lumber.
He explained that the park will be open to the public, and that DUST2 may use the park for events or competitions.
Cook estimated the project to cost approximately $50,000, noting that material donations are likely.
“I think a lot of that we can get from people and companies at a good rate because they want to donate it,” he said, adding that DUST2 is offering to perform the labor with an in-kind donation of $10,000 that includes 400 hours of labor at $25 dollars an hour.
He added that DUST2 would also take on the responsibility of maintaining the park, with oversight from the land owner.
Cook also mentioned the features in the park would be modular and adjustable, allowing for regular reviews and adjustments of the course to be made.
Cook provided a couple example features like logs on the trail and progression drops where riders can learn how to roll over or drop off ledges of heights ranging from 1 to 2 feet.
“All these features are based upon what coaches say you need to have,” Cook said.
Cook explained that more trails being developed on U.S. Forest Service land around Pagosa are years away from coming to fruition and DUST2 is a nonprofit group that already performs maintenance on existing trails, noting that maintenance cost on the park would be minimal.
“We’re not going to build anything that takes a lot of skill to maintain or a lot of money to maintain,” Cook said.
He noted that the interpretive signage at the park will be the bulk of the cost.
“The idea really is that it allows an opportunity for a beginning mountain biker to learn skills in a nonintimidating environment,” he said.
Lewis noted that if the project is approved by both the Pagosa Springs Town Council and Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners, construction would begin in 2025.
The board voted unanimously in favor of moving forward with the project, with Lewis explaining that his recommendation to the town council will be to fund the project using the Conservation Trust Fund.
At the Aug. 6 work session of the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), Cook and Lewis presented the bike park to the board with a similar presentation to what was given to the Combined Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, pointing out the need for locations to build technical biking skills and the goal of creating a simple and practical park for this purpose.
Commissioner Warren Brown asked if the estimated $50,000 cost of the park included the $10,000 in sweat equity that DUST2 is offering and if the group was looking to other entities to help fund the park.
Cook stated that the cost would be $50,000 in addition to the sweat equity.
Lewis noted that the Town of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County have worked together in the past on constructing parks and commented that the town would be willing to contribute $25,000 from its Conservation Trust Fund, leaving the price for the county at $25,000.
Commissioner Veronica Medina asked how large the parcel where the proposed park would be located is.
Lewis explained that a portion of the parcel is currently set aside for a potential wastewater treatment plant and that the park could be built in a variety of sizes depending on how much land is available.
He added that the park would be 1.5 acres to start, but could potentially expand to two to three acres depending on space available.
Commissioner Ronnie Maez commented that the county previously worked with DUST2 on a bike trail near the Pagosa Springs High School, which turned out “really well.”
He added that this was “money well spent” and stated that he supports the bike park proposal.
“We gotta have someplace for the kids … and the big kids, too,” Maez said. “I think it’s very important. I like the way the other bike trail is going right now.”
Cook noted that the park would help build confidence and skills for local bikers.
“I think it’s a great plan,” Medina said. “I liked it the first time I heard it and I like it even more this time.”
Cook commented that the parks and rec board unanimously voted to support the project at its Aug. 1 meeting.
County Attorney Todd Weaver noted that, if there was not space available by Yamaguchi Park, the bike park could potentially be located in the county’s Cloman Park.
Cook stated that he was glad to have another option for the location of the park if locating it at Yamaguchi Park is not feasible.
Lewis indicated that the location at Yamaguchi Park was proposed due to it being close to the high school and being a location where many people already ride bikes.
However, he added that the group appreciates having an alternate location.
