Chicopee is very proud to announce that after months of planning we will be moving ahead to open a multi-use bike park to add to our roster of summer activities. Already boasting nearly 10kms of single and double track mountain bike trails, the addition of the bike park to the facility will enhance the attractiveness of Chicopee as a destination for mountain bikers throughout all of Southwestern Ontario and beyond.
In association with IMBA, the International Mountain Bike Association, upon their relocation of their Canadian Headquarters to Kitchener, Trail Specialist Mark Schmidt will assist in the planning, layout and construction of the park. The park will feature up to five(5) dirt jump lines ranging from beginner to intermediate/advanced. In addition, the inclusion of a pump track will be built utilizing a series of rollers, small jumps and berms to allow continuous riding with minimal pedaling, will round out the park.
The focus of the new park will be on instruction, rider progression and safety which will be achieved by employing certified instructors, structured lesson programs and trained first aid staff on hand to supervise and maintain the features at all times during regular operating hours of the park this spring, summer and fall.
The park will officially open with BikeLaunch! on June 7th at Chicopee, running from 10am-4pm, showcasing all bike related facets of Chicopee's summer operations. This event will feature a garage sale style bike swap, local retailers, manufacturers and demo bikes as well as live music, giveaways and park membership sales and promotions, with all monies raised on this day to be reinvested back into the park facilities. Additionally, Chicopee will host its first ever mountain bike race for riders under the age of 15 on some of the already existing trails throughout the grounds, the Amped Jr.
Chicopee will be hosting an open info session on Thursday, May 1st for all interested parties to view the construction site, ask questions and gather information on the details of the park in anticipation of the opening in early June. This session will begin at 6pm in the Silvertip Lounge at Chicopee.
Chicopee, was established in 1934 as a not-for-profit organization providing winter recreation on its 165 acres to the people of Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and area. We are home to tennis, mountain biking, beach volleyball, children's summer camps and a unique Adventure Challenge Course specializing in corporate and group teambuilding.
-------------------------------
MORE UPDATES-
We met with the park designer today to measure out and begin drawing up specs for the park. The plan is to be able to share these spec's with everyone soon... but the jist of it is that we will be looking at the following:
- 2 X Pump tracks (Intro & Advanced - with option to link from one to other)
- Progressions of Dirt Jumps - Rollers for never evers, up to 5'-7' semi gaps for the advanced crowd.
- Berm course (similar to 4X course) 3 - 4 large switchbacks, with 3 - 4 sets of tables & gaps on each line. (9 to 12 hits)
The park will be a pay to play facility; however proceeds will be directly responsible for improving, upkeeping, and evolving the park. What you see this season is only a taste of where we plan to go.
Thursday May 1st will be a date to throw down in your calendar, day planner, phone, blackberry etc... we will be hosting a meeting for any interested riders to come out and hear whats in the works. Plan on arriving for the meeting which will kick off at 6:00 pm. Our park designer will be on site to answer questions and share some samples with the crowd.
As an added bonus, any in attendance on Thursday evening will have access to purchasing or reserving their membership at a rate of $109. ($70 off regular price). This Park Pass will give you unlimited access to the Park and all other Chicopee trails & features all summer long. No monthly fees, no hassles, no problem!
Hope to see you all there!
Oh yeah... remember that this park WILL be yours to enjoy as of June 7th! (2008... no waiting involved!)
MORE UPDATES TO COME!
http://www.skichicopee.com/ski/summer_mbiking.html 
CAN'T WAIT
