Mountain Biking Trails For Hillandale Park Receive City Endorsement
By Jeff Mellott
Daily News Record
August 28, 2006
HARRISONBURG - Several miles of mountain bike trails are planned for Hillandale Park, according to a proposal approved by the city's Parks and Recreation Commission.
Up to 4 miles of trails with three levels of difficulty are planned for land bordered by Circle Drive and South Dogwood Drive and Hillandale Avenue in the park, according to the proposal, which the City Council has endorsed.
Park officials plan to schedule a public meeting to explain the proposal and answer questions about the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2007 at a cost of about $7,000.
The natural-surface trails, cycling enthusiasts said, would be one more biking attraction for an area already popular with cyclists.
Challenging Course
The corner of Hillandale Park that is proposed for the trails is ideal, said Rich Edwards, a city resident and trail specialist for the International Mountain Bicycling Association.
The site, he said, has relatively flat ground for beginners. The topography of the more than 40 acres changes enough to allow an intermediate trail for greater challenges. A rocky area will be for advanced riders, he said.
"We're like hikers," Edwards said. "We're looking for natural trail experiences and a beautiful environment."
The trail proposal includes a buffer at the edges of the trail area facing homes. Cyclists, Edwards said, want the screening to preserve the natural setting.
Edwards began working on the project after city resident Ken Bell went to him with his idea.
Bell was looking for a safe place for cycling in the city for his children, Conner, 12, and Austin, 9, and, eventually, Finley, who is 10 months old.
Living a few blocks from the park, Bell discovered the large wooded area near his home was part of Hillandale.
Bell said many people go to the mountains for cycling. "We are bringing that experience to town," he said.
Public Notice
While a conceptual layout of the trails has been completed, Edwards said, refinements are necessary. He plans to walk the area this winter to determine what changes are needed.
Before then, the cycling enthusiasts and the parks department plan to meet with residents of the neighborhood to explain the proposal and listen to concerns.
Parks and Recreation Department Director Lee Foerster considers the trails a passive recreational use of the land compared to "active" uses, such as playing fields, which disturb neighboring homes.
The trails, said Councilman Charles Chenault, also a member of the parks commission, have a lot of potential.
"People who frequent these types of facilities," he said, "are dedicated to their sport."
The trails, he said, will add to the Shenandoah Valley's growing reputation as a place ideal for mountain biking.
Bell said the area's terrain is ideal for road training for mountain biking.
Edwards, who has traveled internationally for his job, said he chose Harrisonburg largely for its recreational biking possibilities.
