WASHBURN BIKE PARK BACKGROUND AND KEY EVENTS

  • The North Coast Cycling Association (NCCA) and the Washburn Bike Park Sub Committee appreciates the time the Parks Committee, the City Staff and City Council have spent learning more about the opportunity for a Bike Park in Washburn and discussing the possibilities since 2022.

  • NCCA believes the Bike Park would be a well-used, destination-level amenity for both local youth and adults, as well as visitors to the community. 

KEY POINTS ON TIMELINE

  • SUMMER 2022

    • Initial Bike Park Community Survey distributed by email and gathered June 2022.

    • The sub-committee, originally formed as an ad-hoc citizen group before joining NCCA as an official sub-committee (March 2024), opened the discussion with the Parks Committee on this concept in July of 2022.

  • FALL/WINTER 2022

    • The sub-committee initially wrote 3 successful grants on behalf of the CIty to raise $20,000 in funding to hire the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) to support a robust site selection and design process for a Washburn park.

    • IMBA is the pre-imminent bike trail and park development entity in the US.

  • SUMMER/FALL 2023

    • IMBA Phase 1 Planning begins, community meetings held.

  • WINTER 2024

    • The Omaha Site location was approved for NCCA to proceed with further site exploration and site designs by City Council on 2/12/24 with the agreement final site plans would be brought back to City Council for approval when ready.

    • The ad-hoc steering committee joined NCCA as a sub-committee on March 12, 2024. Charmaine Swan, lead of that committee, also became a board member of NCCA.

  • SUMMER 2024

    • In June 2024, the sub-committee applied for and received $7,000 from Essentia Health to contract with C&S Design on the creation of final site plans for the Omaha location in collaboration with an in-kind donation from Summit to Sea Trails, a locally housed, national trail building company owned by Washburn City resident Tommy Cogger.

    • The City of Washburn and NCCA signed an MOU on July 10/11, 2024.

  • FALL 2024

    • Contract begins with C&S Design for final site plans (see details below).

  • WINTER 2025

    • Site survey completed and topo map available but then delays due to final utility locate.

    • Final topo provided in January 2025.

  • MARCH/APRIL 2025

    • Bike Park elements provided by Summit to Sea Trail Specialists March 2025.

    • NCCA President and sub-committee met with C&S and Summit to Sea Trail Specialists March 25, 2025.

    • Final site plans provided by C&S Design on April 8, 2025.

    • Presented to NCCA Board on April 8, 2025.

    • Presented to City of Washburn Parks and Recreation Committee on April 15, 2025.

  • MAY 2025

    • Presented to the Washburn City Council for final site plan approval at the Omaha Site on May 12, 2025. Council approved unanimously.

    • Fundraising begins.

SCOPE OF WORK & TIMELINE FOR PHASE 1 PLANNING WITH IMBA ($20,000)

  • IMBA met with City Staff, Parks Committee, Steering Committee, and stakeholders to review BIke Park opportunities within the City, including an in-person visit on 10/16/23. 

  • Through rigorous review, IMBA narrowed down the Bike Park site options: 

  1. Holman Lake View Drive: This site is a more concentrated area with a grand view and could supply needed bathrooms for the adjacent beach and walking trail.

  2. Omaha Street property: This site has more room for additional amenities making it a grand destination, almost a “Central Park” for Washburn.

IMBA has also noted opportunities for additional natural surface trails to increase connectivity between both sites and other key areas in town. See draft concept plan. 

  • The Steering Committee felt either site would function well for the purposes of the bike park and is hopeful the Council will approve continued explorations and development of the Bike Park concept and design.

  • Once the site was selected, IMBA had agreed to:

    • refine the design concept in accordance with community desires;

    • provide cost and budget estimates for designs;

    • provide recommendations on phases of construction;

    • provide recommendations on maintenance and upkeep plans.

  • Based on IMBA’s final proposal, the Steering Committee would then seek pledges and grants to funds to cover the cost of building and maintaining the Bike Park. 

    • With sufficient funds identified, the Steering Committee would work in partnership with the CIty to develop an appropriate construction timeline.

SCOPE OF WORK & TIMELINE FOR PHASE 2 PLANNING: C&S DESIGN & SUMMIT TO SEA TRAILS ($19,000)

  • Essentia Grant obtained in June, 2024 for $7,000 + $12,000 in in-kind donation from Summit to Sea Trail Specialists LLC

  • September 2024, begin work with C&S Design for the following: Topographical Survey, Plat of Survey, Design, Bid Design Drawings Phase One

  • November 2024, Pine Ridge Land Surveying supplied to C&S Design, which was then added to survey map and sent to NCCA

    • Missing several important items, namely location of key utilities: water/sewer and fiber optics

  • January 2025, City of Washburn was able to locate and confirm additional utilities, which were supplied on a map to C&S Design and added to site topo.

  • March 2025, Summit to Sea Trail Specialists provided bike park elements to C&S Design.

  • April 08, 2025, C&S Design provided the final site plan and cost estimates template to NCCA.

Washburn Bike Park

In 2022, a group of citizens and riders from the Chequamegon Bay Area began meeting regularly to dream up a possible bike skills park located in Washburn, Wisconsin. In 2023, the City of Washburn was awarded a Trail Accelerator Grant to assist in planning efforts of a community bike park and provide the community with a purpose built bike facility for users of all ages and ability levels. IMBA Trail Solutions partnered with Washburn on Wheels, National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) race team representatives, community stakeholders, and city staff to develop this concept plan. IMBA Trail Solutions team conducted a site visit in October 2023 and met with the project team to get an understanding of site conditions, community goals, and concepts for bike park development. A community meeting was held during this time to inform the public about the planning process and gather input on opportunities, constraints, and goals.

Out of 4 sites, 2 were developed more fully and presented to the City’s Parks and Recreation Committee and finally, the City Council. On February 12, 2024, Washburn City Councilors voted to proceed with final plans for the Omaha site. Later that month, North Coast Cycling Association voted to absorb the ad hoc steering committee as a subcommittee within the organization. With the help of an Essentia Community Grant and in-kind donation from Summit to Sea Trails Specialist, the group has created a final bike park plan they presented to City Council on May 12, 2025 and was approved unanimously. Below is a more detailed timeline.

If you’d like to donate to the Washburn Bike Park, any and all amounts are welcomed. If you have an in-kind donation or larger amount, please reach out by email.

First phase concept plans from IMBA along with full-size site plans can be found here.