in Group Rides, Bike Trips, and Events

Stoughton has abandoned dirt jumps at Lowell Street Park as well as some small ramps which function as a roll in for the line. Although the spot has been built with the permission of the city, the person maintaining the spot last summer has moved out of state.  However, I think this spot has potential to be some of the best dirt jumps in the area with a little TLC.

I'm thinking about trying to get this spot running again this month and am reaching out to see if anyone is interested in helping get some more dirt jumps/bmx trails running the area since there aren't many.

Here is a video I took of the spot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c93zMPds5RM
Here is the city's (sparse) official page for the park: http://www.ci.stoughton.wi.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={A6C4EE04-2C4A-4098-A5CE-32C41EBC9515}

That is a very sparse webpage.

That is pretty far off my beaten path, so I likely won't be much physical help, but if you get meetings, workdays, etc. lined up, we can certainly help with promotion.  There are certainly a few folks around who do that sort of riding who should be willing to help out.

It's too bad SaltyBK moved; it seemed like he had some momentum going there.  Seems like everyone who rode out there was impressed.  Post up when you get a plan, and we can get it up on Facebook, etc.  Consider coming out to a meeting or other CORP event; it is harder to ignore pleas for help when it comes from someone you've met.

Historical threads for background information:
http://www.madcitydirt.com/index.php?topic=1532.msg11501#msg11501
http://www.madcitydirt.com/index.php?topic=2559.msg20247#msg20247

I agree that this area has a lot of potential. It already has a lot of things going for it that other places wish they could have. They have a suitable site, a willing partner in the City, and heck there is even a base set of trails and features to work with! Most places take years to get to that point.

I agree with Jon: The best thing that can be done is to get involved. Join up and be a member. That gives you a voice. Lots of folks like to work on this sort of thing. CORP can help provide a base of support when needed,as well as a connection point. And it's not our first rodeo so there are resources to draw on as well.

I would consider tweaks to make it an all-around Bike Park. That makes it attractive to more people. Getting it maintained regularly makes it attractive to others. And prolly not the demographic you are think of, but making it attractive to kids and families will do wonders for you. Everyone from City Hall on down will to support things that little kids enjoy. And there are ways to do it that make it so the little ones can have fun, and still be fun for the bigger kids in us as well.

Yes to the families and kids point Chuck brought up.

The youth program in Cambridge has really fueled the scene. In Middleton some of the mini kids who were brought to the pump track by their parents 6 years ago now go there on their own. The Blackhawk youth program lit a big fire and got whole families riding.

It's also good to look for business partners. Just a few bike shop partners have made a major difference. Area brewers and food firms have really helped.

I can't imagine a city parks and rec department not on board with the same sorts of groups and partnerships that have made the other trail areas around here popular and sustainable. Now that I've been at this for a long time I've seen several groups of jumpers and free riders come and go while all the youth efforts have been so popular they get filled up. The youth programs are just the opposite. They grow each year and still get filled to capacity.

A typical dirt jumper is probably in teens and 20s. They seem to stick around for 2-4 years. Get kindergarten kids on dirt and you probably have them sticking around for 12 years and getting some or all the family on board with them.