
Bringing back biking in Hancock will expand recreation opportunities in the community. Hancock trails club board member Nate Laakonen and Hancock city councilor Dean Woodbeck expect the Creekside bike park will become a central place for biking around Houghton and Hancock.
Right now, the trail heads that exist in the city they’re functional, but they don’t have a sense of community, and they aren’t designed specifically for mountain biking. So the parking space is limited, and they do not have amenities that mountain bikers, hikers, or trail runners look for when they’re going out for a ride or when they’re completing a trail. So, in addition to the skill park, we’re also hoping to have green space with picnic tables. – Nate Laakonen, Hancock trails club board of directors
This particular area is land that’s owned by the city, and really hasn’t been used efficiently for a number of years. So it’s a great place to build this bike park, to get parents and kids here, get kids learning the different aspects of riding a mountain bike, and getting experience before they head out on the trails. – Dean Woodbeck, councilor, city of Hancock
The Creekside park will connect with the other churning rapids bike trails. As well as feature a pump track, and a kids loop for young and beginner riders. Laakonen says practicing in the park will help newcomers to the hobby learn before they get on the trail.
Being in the city limits, being close to the city, and being close to the Hancock beach and campground. Somebody can come over here, spend some time practicing their skills, learning how to ride a bike, because we all need to learn somewhere. So the best place to do that is in a place that’s designed specifically for learning. – Nate Laakonen, Hancock trails club board of directors
For the community, we don’t have anything like this. As you go north, there might be areas that kind of mirror what we’re trying to build here. There’s maybe some bigger mountain bike pockets up in Copper Harbor that have assets like this. And we’re hoping to kind of bolster that mountain bike group that we have here in Houghton and Hancock. – Ian Helmer, Hancock trails club board of directors
The Hancock Trails Club will use portions of grant funds from Visit Keweenaw’s destination development program and from the Hancock recreation millage to support a Michigan Economic Development Corporation matching grant. Board member Ian Helman says the fundraising campaign will seek to raise the remaining match within 30 days.
The city of Hancock has committed 10 grand of in-kind work for infrastructure work as well as 10 grand in cash towards the project. The MEDC, we are live with our campaign. It’s a 50 grand matching campaign. So once we reach that 50 grand goal, we’ll unlock the 50 grand from the MEDC. – Ian Helmer, Hancock trails club board of directors
The Creekside bike park fundraising campaign with MEDC and the Hancock Trails Club will remain open for 30 days. Those interested in supporting the project and the match portion can find more details here.
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