Arkansas Trail Building College Program Plus Trail News From Utah, Oklahoma, and Alabama

The JEM trail in Utah see management changes, a new trail in Alabama, and an Arkansas college starts a trail building certification program.

Trail Flow is a roundup of all the mountain bike trail related news of the week including new trail builds, advocacy, and planning. Do you have trail news? Email [email protected] for possible inclusion.

Enid, Oklahoma trails to become official city park

From OK Earthbike Fellowship (Enid) Facebook page.

The city council in Enid, Oklahoma recently voted to make the 5 Eighty Bike Park an official city park. The city-owned site is a former landfill, with construction of the trails a largely volunteer effort.

JEM trail in Utah goes directional, new Carne Asada trail added

File photo by Fatbike1.

The popular JEM trail in southwestern Utah is seeing some changes this year. The traditional route traverses BLM and private land, including a parcel known as Sheep Bridge Nature Preserve that was acquired by the Nature Conservancy. As a result, the route is now directional via a new return trail from the Preserve known as Carne Asada. The changes should be finalized by spring.

BUMP opens new trail at Oak Mountain in Alabama

Photo: Dirtlife Media Designs via SORBA Facebook post.

The Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) officially opened a new trail called Tails at Oak Mountain State Park. The new trail promises plenty of flow with a few tech sections mixed in as well.

Arkansas college gets $8 million grant to establish trail building program

File photo

The Northwest Arkansas Community College received an $8 million grant to develop a trail building and maintenance program. The three-year grant comes from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, which also helped the same college set up a bike repair and assembly technician program recently.

The school’s goals include producing a workforce of certified trail technicians, ensuring access to regional bicycle trails and promoting responsible environmental practices,” according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The program is slated to start in the fall of 2024.

 

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