Bike Skills Area at Upper Luther Burbank Park
This project has concluded. Please see the New Bike Skills Area at Deane's Children's Park project page for the latest project information and to leave feedback on the proposed Bike Skills Area at Deane’s Children’s Park.
The City of Mercer Island will temporarily close the Bike Skills Area (formerly called the BMX Course) at Upper Luther Burbank Park for approximately six months due to significant operating challenges and safety concerns.
Over the last several years, use of the Bike Skills Area has been impacted by repeated unauthorized expansion of the course, damage to soils and established vegetation, and construction of jumps that exceed park rules. This closure will allow the City to ensure this park area is operating safely and sustainably.
Action Sports Design, a specialized consultant, will perform a full assessment of the site and make recommendations to improve the Bike Skills Area while minimizing environmental impacts. Trees in this area of the park will also be assessed for pruning and removals as necessary, and trees and shrubs will be planted this Winter to revegetate areas that have been damaged.
Public engagement is a preeminent focus during this closure. The City will activate several avenues to share feedback and ideas for the future of the Bike Skills Area, including a virtual public meeting on November 15, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss the project and answer questions.
Community members are invited to follow the City’s social media profiles for updates and visit this Let’s Talk page for details about the work being performed, engagement opportunities, and more on what’s ahead.
Leave a Comment
This project has concluded. Please see the New Bike Skills Area at Deane's Children's Park project page for the latest project information and to leave feedback on the proposed Bike Skills Area at Deane’s Children’s Park.
This bike park has been a refuge for kids and adults who have needed a safe, local way to be outside nd be together when so many things were taken away. The kids who use this park have asked for guidelines and I believe the "damage" mentioned here is an extreme over statement. These kids are also lovers of trees and parks. We are all on the same side here. Let's provide them with guidelines of use and keep providing this healthy, screen free and mental health stabilizing opportunity.
When I first moved to the island I found teenagers repeatedly drinking beer in tucked away pockets like this. Let's not allow it to go back to the the hidden safe space for drinking. I'll take biking and jump building (within established rules) ANY day over that.
The BMX trails in Upper Luther Burbank Park offered a refuge for my son during lockdown and an outlet after online schooling. Why take away a Covid-safe activity that allows kids to experience the outdoors, to build sportsmanship, and to get hours of well-needed exercise? For the issue of safety, I would rather see my daredevil son do "sick jumps" than see him ride our city streets. If he gets hurt, as in any sport, then that's my responsibility as a parent. As a community, we should be concerned with the bigger picture of childhood obesity and the encouragement of outdoor activities. Trails, biking or hiking, allow us all to enjoy our parks, to spark interest in our kids (young and old) to possibly become stewards of parks, and to encourage all of us to visit & support our national parks. Please re-open Snake Hill! Support multi-activities in our parks!
Snake Hill is are very important to the MT Biking community of MI. This is really the only dedicated set of MTB trails on the island. MI should be looking to expand the trail set at snake hill vs closing them. Closing the space seems like an adverse reaction to the lack of city engagement. The city could have actively engaged with the community over the past 5 years this situation could have been mitigated. Going forward the city could bring in members of the Evergreen MTB alliance for site guidance to really improve snake hill.
Build a real Pump Track on MI!
Snake Hill is the only place my kid can ride his mountain bike on Mercer Island. Normally he rides there every day after school for some relaxation and exercise. It is a place where he feels he can let go and de stress. It serves a wide community of biking kids. The majority of these riders are responsible and take care of the park. They do not want illegal trail building. They know the rules, jumps only a certain size and within the boundary. Many of them have been actively giving their voices to the parks, requesting a lock box for tools, so that any trail building within the boundary is controlled by core members. This has never been granted. Why would the city close this vital space for children, without granting them the ability to control the wider digging?
Where can our kids go to safely mountain bike? Please reconsider your actions!
The Bike Skills trails are very important to the young people on this island. I would like to see it reopened for the benefit of those who love biking.
The bike skills area is a part of the Luther Burbank master plan and should continue to be a priority. Honoring kids who do not thrive in traditional sports is inclusive and responsible. At the bike skills area, kids can learn important skills, build confidence and an appreciation for the outdoors.
The bike skills area is an important feature of our Mercer Island Parks. Many kids in the community deeply value having this resource available on the island. Let’s work together to find a way to sustain the skills area. It is important to provide biking opportunities for youth and all of our island’s bikers. I know the park has been instrumental in shaping my oldest son. He spends many hours at the park every week and it has provided a healthy outlet for him. His time at the skills park has allowed him to develop creativity and an appreciation for the outdoors. Biking provides an outlet for many kids who don’t find their home in more traditional sports.
Bike users belong in Mercer Island Parks. Providing the skills area is valuable to provide shared and equitable use of our outstanding Mercer Island Parks. I look forward to this process to develop a plan for the bike skills area.