Scenes from Los Alamos Bike Park Working Group community meeting. Courtesy/BPWG

Scene from County hosted community listening session. Courtesy/BPWG

The Los Alamos Bike Park Working Group:

The Los Alamos Bike Park Working Group (BPWG) is set to present a comprehensive update on its work for a new bike park, to the Los Alamos County Parks & Recreation Board at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave.

The proposal is backed by strong community input, including a recent survey showing that 89% of respondents support the development of a bike park in the County.

The working group will ask the board to formally support the North Mesa Recreation Area as the preferred site for the project. This recommendation comes after an analysis of four potential locations and a public survey in which 85% of participants favored the North Mesa site.

The push for a dedicated bike park addresses a significant need within Los Alamos County, which is home to a large and growing cycling community. This includes the Tuff Riders, with a 30-year history; the New Mexico Interscholastic Cycling League (NICA) team, with over 150 student-athletes since 2019; and the Tuff Tykes group for young children, which has grown to over 100 families.

Proponents argue that while the county has many trails for intermediate and advanced riders, there is a lack of safe, accessible areas for beginners and children to develop fundamental skills.

“A bike park would be a fantastic community hub, providing a safe and progressive environment for children, teens, and adults to build their skills and confidence,” said a spokesperson for the Los Alamos Bike Park Working Group. “Our survey results show this isn’t just a niche request from avid cyclists; it’s a desire shared across the community. In fact, over half of the supporters who responded to our survey do not belong to an organized bike group.”

The community survey, which gathered 271 responses as of June 5, revealed broad-based support for the initiative.

Key findings include:

• 89% of respondents “Strongly” or “Somewhat” support a bike park.
• 55.4% of respondents are not affiliated with local biking organizations.
• The North Mesa location received support from 84.9% of participants.
• Educational programs are a high priority, with trail etiquette (73.9%) and safe bike handling (70.9%) being the most requested offerings.

The North Mesa site is considered ideal as it is already zoned for recreation, has existing infrastructure such as parking and restrooms, and is accessible via a local bus route. The proposal for a bike park was included in every design concept submitted during a public master plan workshop for the North Mesa Recreation Area held in April.

The working group estimates a full bike park, including a beginner-friendly pump track and intermediate-skill features, would require 2.5 to 5 acres and cost between $500,000 and $800,000. The group has already explored supplemental funding options, including state and foundation grants, and has committed to assisting with fundraising and maintenance through volunteer partnerships.

Beyond recreational benefits, the group highlights potential economic impacts, including increased tourism and visitor spending at local businesses, estimated at $150,000 to $700,000 annually.

About the Los Alamos Bike Park Working Group:

The Los Alamos Bike Park Working Group is a coalition of citizens, parents, and cycling enthusiasts dedicated to establishing a safe, fun, and accessible bike park for all ages and skill levels in Los Alamos County. The group focuses on community outreach, site analysis, and fundraising to improve outdoor recreation and quality of life. Contact: labpwg@googlegroups.com

Courtesy/BPWG

Courtesy/BPWG