Last fall, Kent resident and firefighter Ryan Montero brought together the Kent Parks Department and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance around a vision he had for a Kent Mountain Bike Park/Trails System. Out of these conversations, Lori Flemm, Kent Parks Superintendent, invited Evergreen to conduct a feasibility study with three objectives:
1. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of parks and other locations within Kent to determine the best candidates for a mountain bike park/trails system.
2. Develop high level designs for the top three to five locations, for consideration by Kent Parks.
3. Work in conjunction with Kent Parks to develop a funding, planning and permitting strategy, as the basis for full design and construction of the Kent Mountain Bike Park/Trails System.
Over the past three months, Evergreen and Ryan Montero have worked with Diamondback, REI, Redline, Cycle Therapy, GYH, and the Weyerhaeuser Bicycle Club to complete a parks inventory and to develop concepts for off-road cycling in Kent. We have also secured the support from public officials including Kent Councilmember Jamie Danielson, State Representatives David Upthegrove and Goeff Simpson, and the Kent Bicycle Advisory Board. In addition, there is a very cool grassroots following of the Kent project on Facebook with over 200 members.
We have also been working with Kent Parks on technical issues related to wetland delineation, geotechnical surveys, and permitting to determine the best sites. There is still much work that needs to be done, and we will keep you updated as things progress.
But now, we need your voice! The Kent Parks department is conducting an online survey to ask for community input as it develops the next Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan. A strong showing by the mountain bike, cyclocross and BMX communities will send a message to Kent Parks that the community wants more off-road cycling.
To complete the survey, visit Kent Parks. The deadline is May 2nd, but please don't wait. It will take you 5 minutes. And the result could be city sanctioned and supported, sustainable bike parks in Kent!
More Information:Kent Feasibility Study Preliminary Findings