Hill’s Hill Bike Park Supporters
We are a group of Arlington residents who want to help create a “bike playground” in the woods of Hill’s Hill for our community.
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Latest News
Project design has been ongoing since the approval of the project and the public design review meeting back in March of this year.
Bids from firms for the build are due to the town by October 26, 2024.
We will post more as we learn more.
What’s going on at Hill’s Hill?
The Arlington Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking funding to create mountain bike facilities (a “mountain bike playground”) for all ages at Hill’s Hill, which is an area of underused recreation space near the Ed Burns ice arena.
This project grew out of teens building trails in the woods during the Covid lockdown in spring of 2020. It was clear there is a community need for active recreation for youth who don’t have the time, money, or inclination for traditional team sports. The project includes a “pump track” in a small section of the area. A pump track is basically a self-powered roller coaster for bikes (the photo below is of a nearby pump track) – it is super-fun for all ages and is great exercise, and as you can see from the photos, it doesn’t involve removing trees or other natural features.
The project team has applied for a CPA grant to fund this project; it will not impact Arlington resident taxes.
WHY?
This park will serve all ages, but will provide a desperately needed recreational option for teenagers in town. This is an age group that has aged out of many Recreation Department offerings and needs recreational options and gathering spaces to build and expand their communities away from social media. In fact, this age group is often derided for simply hanging out in visible locations.
Teens are experiencing a mental health crisis.
We feel strongly that the proposed facility will be a valuable asset that will encourage kids to exercise and socialize outdoors, enabling them to improve their own mental health.
Providing kids a place to play in nature will strengthen our future leaders' connection to the natural world, providing lessons of stewardship and self-reliance that will pay back over time. Let's not be afraid of kids in the woods, let's promote it!
Driving 30 minutes there and back to a pump track in a nearby town is not an eco-friendly option.
“Our Kids are Ecstatic about a Mountain Bike Playground“
“Our two daughters, aged 5 and 9, are both Bishop Elementary students and love mountain biking and playing outside. They're over the moon about a "mountain bike playground" in the woods down the street from us. They adore pump tracks because of how fun they are and that anyone can ride them. They love the idea of going there from school with their friends, riding, hanging out, and meeting new kids.”
Greg P, Arlington parent
