Sisters cyclists 'send it' at local bike park

Sisters Bike Park 242 is located on the edge of the Sisters High School parking lot. It provides an outlet for kids, of all ages, to get a little dusty and 'send it' while riding their bikes.

In October 2015, the bike park received donations to start building a small pump track. In April of 2016, the big pump track was created. Then, in September of 2016, SPRD received a parks and recreation development grant to keep expanding the park.

Much like everything else, when COVID hit all the work and excitement for the bike park came to a halt.

After sitting for years without maintenance or care, the track was overgrown with weeds. The small and large pump tracks needed work before they were rideable again.

Photo by Tatum Cramer

Bike Park 242 is being discovered by cycling enthusiasts.

In the summer of 2023, the bike park received a new set of grants, which helped restore it back to its full potential. This required dedicated volunteers that rebuilt jumps, pump tracks, and miscellaneous dirt work so the park could be ready for the grand opening.

Project managers Michelle and Steve Smith helped find dozens of volunteers to come together and restore the bike park for its grand reopening in October of 2023.

Michelle is the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) representative for the Sisters area. Her volunteer work and commitment to the bike park has not gone unnoticed. Through her love for mountain biking, as well as getting kids outside, she shines when it comes to leadership and bringing people together around a common goal. Her organizational skills are admirable and her bubbly spirit fills everyone around her with smiles. Michelle operates with such precision that things she is in charge of are guaranteed to run smoothly.

Steve is a dedicated mountain biker through and through. Not only does he love riding his bike, he loves teaching others about everything on two wheels. Through coaching the kids and putting on clinics, he is opening kids' eyes to what is possible on a bike. Steve makes every kid feel welcome and his teaching style centers around having fun!

Without these two dedicated individuals, as well as everyone who has volunteered and helped throughout the years, the bike park would not exist.

The bike park recently hosted skills clinics.

"The bike park is a great way to expand kids' enjoyment for action sports instead of ball and stick sports," said Kevin Formalarie, a volunteer at the Sisters Bike Park 242 .

Volunteers like Formalarie are always needed. Through volunteering to help run clinics and assisting with bike park maintenance the park can stay safe and fun.

"When it comes to my hope and goals for the bike park, I hope we can get more community involvement and that people come to respect the time and effort it takes to build and maintain this park," said Michelle Smith.

The Sisters bike park asks that you not climb, run, or jump on the bike park area. This type of use tends to break down the dirt features, so only use the bike park if you are on a bike.

If you have questions or wonder about how to get involved in volunteering or registering for clinics email sistersrep@cotamtb.com.