Lexington officially opens first mountain bike trail

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2012) — Lexington celebrated the opening of its first mountain bike trail Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Mayors live for days like today,” said Mayor Jim Gray said. “A day we can crowd the winner’s circle and show Lexington’s can-do spirit.”

This trail is the result of a public-private partnership with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association, Gray said.

“It’s a manifestation of doing more with less. It’s what happens when you get the right people around a problem-solving table … you save money and make the impossible, possible,” he said.

The cost of the trail was $30,000, compared to an original estimate of $150,000.

Located in Veterans Park in southern Fayette County, the trail is almost four miles long and is built to standards established by the International Mountain Biking Association for beginners and intermediate riders.

Jim Johnson, a structural engineer and avid mountain biker, proposed this project to the mayor and suggested that it could happen through a partnership with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association.

Chris Lockard, president of the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association, and Troy Hearn, president of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association provided their support. Hearn and John Deller, a local mountain biker, recruited and worked with volunteers.

“This trail is an example of a private advocacy group working with local government and is a model of success for all of Kentucky,” Hearn said.

Parks and forestry employees cut brush and cleared hazardous materials. The dirt trail was then graded and the soil compacted and erosion controls were put in place.

Pedal-the-Planet Trails was the paid contractor for the project. The company also donated a “fix-it station” so bikers can make repairs while they are on the trail.

“It’s amazing to have the Veterans Mountain Bike Trail right here in our city and in our own backyard,” said Wendy Trimble with the bike shop. “Pedal-The-Planet is happy to be a part of helping build it and making it a trail for everyone.  It’s a great trail to teach kids and beginners to mountain bike and still a trail experienced bikers can enjoy.”