Hinton’s bike park gets ready to expand

With some warm days and shining sun, it’s no wonder local bike fanatics are beginning to look forward to spring.

To the delight of bikers of all talents, the Hinton Skills Bike Park will be getting an expansion prior to its grand opening, which will be Sunday, June 14.

Just one-third of the park’s more than 37 acres was developed last year, so the Hinton Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) hopes the community will again show a huge amount of support and help them to develop and continue their project.

“We are looking for volunteers [and] we are doing pre-build sessions,” said Stephen Hanus, president of the HMBA, adding they’ll take whatever help they can get.

“Literally, as peoples’ schedules allow: mid-week, evenings, mornings, weekends, any volunteer help is accommodated and welcome. If anybody also has machinery: mainly skid steers, mini back hoes and quads with trailers that will be welcome as well. Financial donations and prizes for volunteers - those all are important because we want to keep our volunteers fed, warm, healthy,” Hanus said.

Professional mountain bike rider and park builder Jay Hoots will be back in Hinton to continue helping with the project, from May 26 to June 14.

Hanus estimates more than $150,000 worth of volunteer time, effort and equipment went into the park last year as the initiative received an overwhelming amount of support from individuals and local businesses. “Basically, everybody who’s turned up, who say that they’re just going to show up for a little bit, end up coming back multiple times because it’s so rewarding.”

One June 14, at the grand opening, in less than one year, the first two phases of making a “world class” bike park that is a “role model for design and fun” will be complete. Hanus said “we were told to go big or go home and we did, and we’re fortunate to have a council that’s really supportive and a land that’s really great and just the turnout of support from the community that was required, it all came together in a short time.”

Obviously pleased by the swift and successful progress of the project, Hanus said he thought the community effort to develop the park demonstrated “what the definition of community is really. People being empowered to work together and make positive changes together, collectively.”

Anyone who would like to donate their time or money, or contribute in another way, can get in contact with the HMBA via email bike_hinton@yahoo.com or follow the latest at their website: www.bikehinton.com.