Cleveland, Ohio — Plans for a new mountain biking trail will make Cleveland an even better place for bikers.
It’s been announced that Cleveland’s first mountain biking trails will be constructed in Kerruish Park. At over 70 acres, Kerruish Park is one of the largest parks in the city and offers a space for recreation and relaxation in a low-income neighborhood. Situated in Lee-Seville, this community has a poverty rate of 20-30%.
The trails will be focused on new and introductory riders. This will include a beginner-friendly skills course, a pump track, and multi-use trails designed for accessibility and fun.
The Trust for Public Land has been working with the community over the past few years on a plan to make Kerruish into a destination park. The decade-long plan is coming to life thanks to the collaboration with the Trust for Public Land (TPL), Norfolk Southern, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), and SYATT (See You at the Top)—a grassroots nonprofit rooted in outdoor equity.
“Expanding access to the world of mountain biking is something that is near and dear to our heart,” said Mike Marro, the Global Senior Marketing Manager for MTB. “When we heard about Trust for Public Land’s initiative to build a public bike park for an underserved community in Cleveland, we knew we had to lend a hand. Providing the infrastructure is a massive achievement, but having the proper equipment still presents a barrier to entry. We’re stoked to team up with REI to provide bikes that may lead to new lifelong riders.”
The creation of this trail will give bikers a park to explore, while also providing people who typically don’t get to experience something like this.
To help bring new riders into the sport of mountain biking, Cannondale and REI have announced a partnership to supply SYATT with a fleet of mountain bikes that will be used to introduce local youth to the sport.
This fall, they’ve created a “bike box,” which is a community hub that will help introduce more people to the sport. SYATT will lead activities that introduce local youth to the sport using brand-new Cannondale bikes. Programming will include opportunities to practice basic mountain biking skills, learn bike maintenance, and build advocacy and leadership around cycling.
“TPL is excited to work with residents in Lee Miles to leverage authentic community engagement, deep and intentional cultural awareness, and future park investment to deliver mountain biking to Cleveland city parks, while also helping to expand the sport in NE Ohio. Cleveland is a city that has an existing mountain bike culture; however, that ridership lacks diversity and input,” said Sean Terry, Ohio State Director for the Trust for Public Land. “Thanks to the support of our partners like Cannondale and REI, we’re providing an opportunity to residents to expand their interests. With a seat at the table, residents can drive nuance in outdoor recreation and its many impacts to urban green spaces.”
A timeline for completing this project has yet to be announced.
Cleveland & Biking
Cleveland is already known as a nice place to be for bikers. The main attraction is Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park. The first and largest indoor bike park in the world features various routes and features. In the metro area, Cleveland Metroparks is home to four designated natural surface mountain bike trails. Another highlight is the Cleveland-Cliffs Bike Park, a large pump track, jump lines, and a beginner area. At the nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park, there are various biking trails.
Image Credits: Trust For Public Land
