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The Snohomish County Parks and Recreation Department identified O’Reilly Acres near Granite Falls and Three Lakes Hill north of Monroe as two site options for the county’s potential future mountain bike parks, it announced early last week.
Three Lakes Hill site is operated by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and would involve coordination with that agency to address any property needs or requirements from DNR before moving forward with further design.
A Parks press release said the two named sites “have the potential to provide the foundation for a future mountain bike park system, offering a range of trails for riders of all skill levels and opportunities for events, races, and community gatherings.”
It had produced the Snohomish County Mountain Bike Feasibility Study.
Sharon Walker, director of Snohomish County Parks and Recreation, said in the press release that “our intent is to create a premier mountain bike destination in Snohomish County that provides high-quality recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. We heard from the community during the Lord Hill Park Preferred Plan process that this type of facility is needed. With the completion of this study, we are taking a significant step toward making that vision a reality.”
The study process included GIS analysis, in-person site visits, and environmental assessments. O’Reilly Acres and T
visits, and environmental assessments. O’Reilly Acres and Three Lakes Hill emerged as the two best options based on factors such as topography, accessibility and environmental impact.
In Parks’ press release, Jordan La Croix, a local mountain bike advocate with the nonprofit Sky Valley Singletrack, expressed excitement about the study’s findings.
“Mountain biking goes way beyond riding,” La Croix is quoted. “It’s a community made up of youth teams, local businesses, passionate volunteers and just great people that make it what it is. I’m stoked to see the community recognized through the investment and completion of this first major milestone which will provide a home for many mountain bikers in Snohomish County.”
The next steps involve narrowing down the two sites to one preferred location and development of a refined concept for that site.
Parks outlines that the park could be designed, built and opened within the next five years.
Additional trail expansion and amenities such as camping will be considered in future phases, depending on funding availability.
For more information and to view the full feasibility study, visit: go to this link.
Derived from press release from Snohomish County Parks
