Big Dig at Gateway Green: 2/11/17

The first new single track trail at Gateway Green in Portland, Oregon.

Big news for Portland Mountain Biking: $2 million in funding towards Gateway Green announced plus a Big Dig day scheduled for Gateway Green.

First off, the big news. Portland Parks & Recreation has announced $2 million in funding has been dedicated towards the first phase of Gateway Green. While the first phase of the Dirt Lab construction has already started, the additional funds will allow the development of the new park to continue moving forward. (see Friends of Gateway Green announcement here)

That doesn’t mean all the bike park features have been funded yet though. Trail gnomes (aka the trail builders contracted to build the single track trails and features) are back at work this week, cutting the second woods line. In order to stretch the available funds earmarked for trail and bike park construction, call outs for volunteers have finally been posted. For those interested in helping with free time this week, they’ll be on site Monday through Wednesday and could use additional hands.

Everyone else, put February 11th on your calendar.

Construction on a second woods line is underway.

Big Dig @ Gateway Green 2/11/17

The next opportunity to help build the first single track trail network in Portland comes February 11th. The Northwest Trail Alliance in collaboration with the Friends of Gateway Green will be putting on a big trail work day from 9am – 4 pm. Come out and help be a part of Portland Mountain Biking history; trail building experience not required.

Food and beverages will be supplied, and best of all, the new trails will be open to ride for volunteers afterward — come get fresh tracks!

Learn more on GatewayGreenpdx.org & RSVP on the NWTA Event Page.

RSVPs are needed to determine the amount of food and drink to be purchased, so please RSVP if you plan to come out — and if your plans change and you can’t make it, make sure to update your RSVP as well, so the appropriate amount of food can be purchased.

Jason Wells of Trail Solutions and Chris Bernhardt of Sentieros Consulting.

If you’re like me, you’re anxiously been awaiting updates on the status of the dirt jump and bike park lines. The first line of jumps has been placed, but a lot more soil is required, with further construction on hold pending the acquisition of materials. Fortunately a new source has presented itself, and we should have more soon. We’ll be posting updates as we get them.

Tarps cover piles of soil that will be formed into dirt jumps. Spring can’t come soon enough.

Note: it is not possible to drive to Gateway Green. The best way in is to park and ride from the Gateway Transit Center. You can also enter via the bike path on the Parkrose side, or ride in from the west via Halsey.