The grand opening for the 45-acre park, built atop a closed landfill, is scheduled for Saturday, June 2.
Last week, riders were trying out the beginners’ level pump track during a preview event.
“There’s all kinds of different opportunities out here,” said Mike Stautberg, president, Atrium Medical Center Foundation said, as riders wove around the track, trying to preserve momentum without pedaling. “It’s going to be a very unique opportunity for Warren County and our entire region.”
Dayton plans to build an outdoor bike park near Welcome Stadium, but it is still in the design stage. Online searches indicated that in Columbus, the Gaters Bike Park is under development, so far featuring a 1/4-mile single track.
MORE: Dayton mountain bike park could get rolling
The nearest place for the range of experiences available in Lebanon — even on a smaller scale — is across the Ohio River in Burlington, Ky., according to Dave Huff, designer of the bike parks in Lebanon and the England-Idlewild Bike Park in Kentucky.
“Beyond that, there is nothing,” Huff said last week in a phone interview. “I think the next closest is Terra Haute, Ind. Then the next one I think is in Chicago.”
Lebanon’s $220,000 park features pump tracks, jumps and mountain bike routes all connected by a perimeter trail.
It marks the culmination of more than two years of planning begun by the city’s park board.
MORE: Lebanon planning bike park
“You know how long we’ve been working on this?” said K.C.Stallings, a Lebanon resident and bike shop owner who participated in the park board planning process approved by the city council.
Stallings envisioned a time when riders along the Little Miami trail, part of one of the longest trail networks in the nation, will turn off at Lebanon, “check out the pump track and then head into downtown for lunch.”
MORE: Miami Valley trail network surpasses 340 miles
In addition, there are hopes of drawing international cyclocross events to the park, off the Ohio 48 interchange at Interstate 71, and riders from the region looking for a place to pedal a pump track, jumps or mountain bike trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders.
“It’s also just an amazing park. It’s free to the community,” Stallings added, before riding off into the park.
Local cyclocross aficionados are looking for places to ride since the former Kingswood Golf Course in Deerfield Twp. became the embroiled in an ongoing development dispute.
The next step in Lebanon's plan calls for completion of a connection with the city's trail system, enabling residents to pedal all the way to the park near the end of Turtlecreek-Union Road.
RELATED: Lebanon adding bike park, trail extension
“Over 30,000 cubic yards was hauled in to construct the mountain bike trails, jump lines, pump tracks and other features that make this park unique. Features vary depending on ability, with there being many opportunities for beginners all the way to more advanced riders,” City Manager Scott Brunka said in an email update on the project.
In addition to the hospital and its foundation, which were the primary sponsors, Brunka expressed appreciation to sponsors including the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Trek Bicycles, Cincinnati Off Road Alliance (CORA), the Harmon Civic Trust, Lebanon Rotary, Mane Inc., Lebanon Optimist Club, Infinit, LCNB, REI and Greensite.
RELATED: Residents plan new bike park in Lebanon
The park includes a parking lot, but additional parking for the grand-opening will be available in the Home Depot/ Rural King parking lot, across the Ohio 48 Bypass. A bike drop-off will be set up in the parking lot and shuttles running from there to the park.
Riders will also be able to ride from event parking to the park.
“We’re very excited,” Brunka said last week while watching riders try out the different features.
Grand opening, June 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Premier Health Atrium Medical Center Bike Park, off the Ohio 48 Bypass in Lebanon.
475 E. Turtlecreek-Union Road
Lebanon, Oh 45036
For information, contact the City of Lebanon Parks & Recreation Department
50 S. Broadway, Lebanon
513-933-7200
Email: info@lebanonbikepark.org
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