Vernonia Bike Skills Park gets funding boost
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on May 2nd, 2007 at 10:16 am
Photo: Ric Balfour/City of Vernonia
Bikes Belong, a national coalition of bicycle manufacturers and retailers, has just announced they will give a $5,000 grant to the Vernonia Bike Skills Park.
Here’s the official word:
“Our funding is earmarked for construction of the skills development trail, the first element of the park. When complete, the skills park will include also a BMX track, pump track, cyclocross course, and singletrack trails.”
Vernonia, is a small, rural town just 45 miles west of Portland. In March, I brought you the story of their burgeoning, grassroots effort to become a bike destination (they call it “Velo-nia”). The effort is being spearheaded by an enthusiastic community and trail consultant Ric Balfour.
This Bikes Belong grant will be added to a $10,000 grant the project has already received from the Cycle Oregon Fund.
Perhaps when Balfour is done with this project, someone will hire him to build a similar facility in Portland?
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May 2nd, 2007 10:45
Sweet! And a designated Cyclocross course, possibly open to practice on? How cool is that.
May 2nd, 2007 15:29
All I used to know Vernonia for was their drunk loggers brawlin' out in the streets...m thru f. Boy have times changed.
May 3rd, 2007 10:02
Now that is a bike friendly town and will put Portland to shame.
More $$ to the oil companies I guess since most will realistically drive to get there.
Props to Vernonia!
May 3rd, 2007 13:31
Yes, this is what Portland needs. Hopefully when Ric is finished, it will help show Parks Chief Dan Saltzman how to get things like this done. Great work Ric and Velonia!
May 6th, 2007 17:50
I am actually sitting in Vernonia right now.
I've not seen drunken loggers brawling in the streets in a long time. that usually only happens during jamboree.