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?