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SALT LAKE CITY — A long-time destination for city mountain bikers is finally becoming an official city park.
Patrons of the terrain trails, located just above the Avenues, have been asking the city to make the area an official park for three years, and their wish was granted Thursday.
Salt Lake City will spend $55,000 for fending, signs, garbage bins and engineering designs to make the I Street Bike Terrain Park a full-fledged park. City officials said they like to improve the quality of life, and they feel you can't go wrong with adding another park.
Chris Prior, 11, said he is excited for the park because he doesn't have to worry about the trails being torn down. He said that jumping his bike is where he finds peace. For Prior, the calm comes in the moment just after his tires leave the ground.
"I don't know how to explain that," he said.
Toni Walbridge, President of the Wasatch Area Freeride Trails Association, said that Thursday was one of the best days he's had in years. He said securing the I Street Terrain Bike Park was a long process that involved a lot of patience, but it might be WAFTA's biggest victory.
"The terrain is quite unique — all those gullies and features here that make it maybe not so good for development and housing. But it creates a perfect terrain for riding our mountain bikes," Walbridge said.
High school teacher, Aaron Kruger, said the park makes a big difference to some of his students.
"The vibe here, the way the kids act here is really civil. It's amazing," Kruger said. "And when you work with kids, you see the worst of them, and here everyone is really positive and it's a fun place to be."
