08
june
vernonia’s
voice
outdoor/recreation
2007
Bicycle Skills Park Rolls Forward
ment trail, with Technical Trail Features, a cyclocross trail,
an informational kiosk, and a parking area. Once addition-
al funds are secured, Phase II development can begin in the
summer of 2008. The project has applied for a grant from
the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Local Gov-
ernments Grants Program to help fund Phase II construc-
tion. Phase II plans include: additional parking, permanent
restrooms, a picnic pavilion, a kids and beginners area, and
a bike mechanic and washing station. The Skills Park has
also set aside property for the construction of a Skateboard
Park, which would be adjacent to the Skills park and is be-
ing developed by the Lion’s Club.
The Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park recently received national attention as
one of 6 recipients of a Bikes Belong Coalition Grant, which awarded
Vernonia $5,000 on May 2, 2007. The Vernonia Skills Park was
considered an “outstanding bicycling project” and “demonstrated a
solid plan” according to the Boulder, Colorado organization which
funds projects that increase and promote bicycle ridership in
communities across the United States.
The Bikes Belong Grant was awarded specifically to assist in the initial construction
of the skills development trail, one of the first elements planned for the park. “The
awarding of this grant is really exciting for this project. It gives Vernonia national
recognition, and credibility. It really is a reward for everyone who has worked so
hard to bring this project this far,” said Vernonia City Administrator M.R. “Dick”
Kline. The Skills Park has also received a grant from Cycle Oregon for $10,000,
cash donations from the community of $760, and numerous pledges of in-kind ser-
vices, donated materials, and labor.
In another important development, on May 17 and May 21 the cities’ request for a
Conditional Use Permit for the Oregon American Mill Site was granted by the city
Planning Commission and then by the City Council for the Skills Park .
With about 60 people in attendance, the Planning Commission heard a staff report
from City Planner Aldie Howard and then testimony from numerous citizens about the
proposed development of the mill site. Vernonia’s citizens appeared to be overwhelm-
ingly in favor of the project, and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the
Conditional Use request, and send it on to the city council for final approval. The City
Council unanimously approved the request at it’s meeting on May 21, 2007.
The Bicycle Skills Park project has been moving steadily forward for the last year,
when some local citizens and the Chamber of Commerce took an idea that had been
presented to city council, and starting working to bring it to life. The city hired Ric
Balfour and Associates of Forest Grove to develop a Master Plan for the Skills Park,
and then hired Balfour’s firm to also complete a site plan for the entire OA mill site.
Ric Balfour and Associates led the community through four public meetings to gain
citizen input into the planning, which was used to develop the Master Plan for the
park. An informational meeting with the Planning Commission was held in April.
Balfour has fully embraced his relationship with Vernonia and the Skills Park proj-
ect. In addition to presenting the complete Master Plan for the park, Balfour has
volunteered hours of his time to fundraise, help with grant writing, produce a news-
letter- “ The Vernonia Velo News,” put on the “Wheels of Fire Bicycle Film Fest” in
March, and spoke to middle and high school students about the project. Balfour will
also be volunteering during the Cycle Oregon visit on June 23, giving visitors tours
of the Skills Park site.
Phase I of the project will be developed throughout the summer of 2007. Plans for
the first phase include: A BMX track and a Pump track, a loop trail, a skills develop-
The Conditional Use Permit granted by the Planning Com-
mission allows the development of parks and city structures
in an area zoned Low Density Residential. Included in the
Conditional Use request by the city was the development
of a Mill Site Interpretive Center, which would feature in-
formation about Vernonia’s logging history and the Oregon
American Mill, the new Senior Center facility (see related
article on page 14), which would include a new home for
the Vernonia Cares food pantry; a new RV and tent camping
area; and the development of an event amphitheater on the
still privately held 4 acres owned by the Nehalem Valley Devel-
opment Corporation. All of these proposed uses including the
skateboard park, were granted conditional use, allowing them to
continue to develop their plans. Each use, as it becomes ready
to begin construction, will be required to return to the Planning
Commission in a public hearing to request approval of a design
plan. The Bicycle Skills Park is the only use that was granted
permission to begin construction.
What is a Skills Park?
What exactly is a Bicycle Skills Park? Well, that’s a good
question. Because Mountain Biking is a sport that is continu-
ally changing, and since there are few models from which to
base a design, a Bicycle Skills Park can be whatever we want
it to be.
Basically, the intention is to provide mountain bike riders of
all skill levels with a place to practice, develop, and improve
their skills in a contained area, with the use of Technical Trail
Features (TTF). A TTF is an obstacle intentionally placed
within the trail line to provide a more interesting and exciting
riding experience. A TTF can be integrated into the trail in
three ways. The first is to incorporate existing natural fea-
tures. You can route the trail over rock slabs, ledges, rock
gardens and fallen trees, and manipulate the natural materials
to create your TTF. The second way is to add natural fea-
tures to the landscape. The use of rocks and logs can create
drop-offs, rock gardens, boulder rides, log pyramids and log
rides. And the third method is to add man-made structures.
Ladder bridges, wooden ramps and teeter-totters are prime
examples of TTFs that can be easily built and added as a
challenge to the trail.
Riders can choose different levels of obstacles to attempt,
based on their level of skill and comfort. As a rider builds
confidence, they can choose a more difficult level of TTF.
Developing and practicing skills in a contained area allows
riders to then venture out on real single track mountain bike
trails and down hill free riding trails.
Put many TTFs together and you have a Bicycle Skills Devel-
opment Trail. Add a parking area, restroom, gathering spot
and any other amenities your riders may want, and you have
a Bicycle Skills Park!