Yesterday the KCMO Parks & Rec Board approved a plan for Earthriders to build mountain bike trails in Swope Park, bringing mountain biking into the very heart of the city! For city cyclists this means an end to using your automobile to ferry your bicycle out to the hinterlands. Soon we’ll have singletrack within biking distance. OK, so Blue River Park is kinda doable, but it’s still pretty far out there.

Trail building is expected to start this autumn on the first phase of 9 miles.  Future plans call for more trails and eventually a possible extension along the Blue River to the trails at Minor Park.

Earthriders are also partnering with the Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City to introduce urban youth to the sport of mountain biking. Kudos to all of the Earthriders folks who worked so hard and so long with the Parks Department to get this project going. Working with the Parks Department is usually a long and tedious process, and these guys deserve many beers.