IMBA Helps Build New Singletrack in Santa Barbara, CA

Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew supports Elings Park trail development.

The first step in every trail project is a careful review of detailed maps.
This trail will have wonderful views of the ocean and the mountains and is sure to be fun for all levels of mountain bikers.
More than 400-hours of volunteer trailwork during two days resulted in extensive trail plans and almost one-half mile of constructed trail.

In February, 2005, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders Nat and Rachael Lopes visited beautiful Santa Barbara, California to work with the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers on a new singletrack trail in Elings Park. This lush and tropical city overlooking the ocean is quite a contrast to the gnarly, rocky and rugged terrain found just inland. The existing trails around Santa Barbara are fun and challenging, but the region offers few places for the beginner mountain bikers.

Now, Elings Park, located in the heart of the city, is expanding their trail system and will include a broad range of trails with a variety of difficulty levels. Known locally as Las Positas Park, the property is managed by the Elings Park Open Space Conservancy, and is unique due to it's accessibility and smooth (not rocky) terrain. It's a hilly 230-acre parcel that will appeal to many types of riders. The park is constructing cross-country and downhill trails to complement the existing BMX track.

Elings Park goes beyond a well-planned trail system by also offering other recreational opportunities. A world class hangliding training hill, baseball and soccer fields, a model airplane flying area, remote control car course and dog running fields are just some of the existing opportunities.

Elings is a model of recreational diversity. In a heavily populated area like Santa Barbara, this neighborhood resource will be used by a variety of active people and will help build a constituency for open space.