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San Jose Breaks Ground on the Lake Cunningham Bike Park

May 23, 2016
by Scott McClain  
The City of San Jose is no stranger to the action sports scene. The Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park is the largest skate park in California at 68,000 square feet. Featuring the world’s largest cradle, tallest vert wall, and largest full pipe, the LCRSP offers a wide variety of terrain for all skill levels to learn and enjoy. The LCRSP is open to bikes, skateboards, scooters, and inline. It is home to the annual Tim Brauch Memorial Bowl Contest, part of the annual World Cup of Skateboarding Tour. The addition of the Bike Park will expand the action sports offerings to 10 full acres.

The Golden Shovels were lined up of the ground breaking ceremony of the Lake Cunningham Bike Park coming in early 2017.
The Golden Shovels were lined up for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Lake Cunningham Bike Park, coming in early 2017.

The Lake Cunningham Bike Park will feature something for everyone with a dual slalom track, beginner pump track, advanced pump track, dirt jump park, slopestyle park, drop zone and skills trails. The City plans to offer a wide range of events and programs including monthly dual slalom and pump track races, dirt jump and slopestyle sessions, summer camps, trail building & maintenance classes, and riding skills classes from beginners to experts.

A good sized crowd showed up to the Ground Breaking with nearly 100 attendees on hand.
A good sized crowd showed up to the Groundbreaking, with nearly 100 attendees on hand.

This vision for a world-class bike park was no whim. The Bike Park steering committee, made up of industry leaders from Specialized Bicycles, Fox Racing, Kali Protectives, pro riders, local bike shop owners and community members began meeting with Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services (PRNS) staff in 2011. In the summer of 2012, a conceptual plan was initiated for a bike park at Lake Cunningham. The plan was developed by the Trails Solution program of the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The conceptual plan offered a viable and compelling vision for enhancing the park and meeting a community need.

Justin Beck Action Sports Specialist with the City of San Jose Parks and Recreation introduces Vice Mayor Rose Herrera. The Vice Mayor was enthusiastic about breaking ground on the project. The East Side needs this. I can see at risk youth being drawn in to programs here at the bike park Vice Mayor Herrera exclaimed.

Justin Beck, Action Sports Specialist with the City of San Jose, introduces Vice Mayor Rose Herrera. The Vice Mayor was enthusiastic about breaking ground on the project. "The East Side needs this. I can see at risk youth being drawn into programs here at the bike park", Vice Mayor Herrera exclaimed.

Vice Mayor Rose Herrera hands an award of accommodation to Trail Head Cyclery Owner Lars Thomsen. Trail Head Cyclery is a local bike shop about 20 minutes from the location of the park. When asked how he felt the park would impact the shop Lars said It will be great for us. We will add a rental fleet of DJ bikes and will stock parts and accessories for that rider group . He mentioned other locations such as Calabasas a place where local Ryan Nyquist grew up. Calabasas was a good place Thomsen said but it had a rougher crowd and was a place that wasn t closely monitored where as Cunningham is a city ran venue with supervision and it s super family friendly .

Vice Mayor Rose Herrera hands an award of accommodation to Lars Thomsen, owner of Trail Head Cyclery. Trail Head Cyclery is a local bike shop who supports lots of local riders and community projects including the famous flow trail at Soquel Demonstration Forest. When asked how he felt the park would impact the shop, Lars said "It will be great for us. We will add a rental fleet of DJ bikes and will stock parts and accessories for that rider group". He mentioned other locations such as Calabazas, a place where local Haro rider, Ryan Nyquist grew up. "Calabazas was a good place," Thomsen said, "but it had a rougher crowd and was a place that wasn't closely monitored, whereas Cunningham is a city run venue with supervision and it's super family friendly".

Lopes talks about Hilside s roll in the project.

Rachael Lopes, from Hilride, talks about how they worked with Wormhoudt Inc and Verde Design to design a park for all ages and abilities. After the dignitaries were done on the microphone, they grabbed the shovels and made it official.

From Left to Right Justin Beck - Action Sports Specialist City of San Jose Steve Lars Thomsen - Owner at Trail Head Cyclery Vice Mayor Rose Herrara City of San Jose Owner at Kali Protectives Lopes - Hilside

From Left to Right, Justin Beck - Action Sports Specialist City of San Jose PRNS, Angel Rios Jr - Director of City of San Jose PRNS, Lars Thomsen - Owner of Trail Head Cyclery, Vice Mayor Rose Herrera City of San Jose District 8, James Calmar - Owner of Calmar Bicycles, Brad Waldron - Owner of Kali Protectives, Rachael Lopes - Hilride, Barry Ng - Director of City of San Jose Public Works

IMBA officials were on hand as was Lopes from Hilride a company that is no stranger to consulting on park building.
Sean McKenna, President of the Silicon Valley Mountain Bikers, a local IMBA chapter, was on hand to celebrate. With Ground Broken, the festivities began.

Kali protectives and Trail Head Cyclery both had display tents on hand for the Ground Breaking. The tents also made an excellent location for a group photo of some of the attendees and people involved in planning the bike park.

Kali Protectives is a local protectives brand from Morgan Hill, CA and has been very supportive of the project moving forward. Trail Head Cyclery has been involved from the get-go. Both companies were on hand to spread the stoke for the project and frame a photo of project supporters from all walks of life.

Lake Cunningham Bike Park

This is the epitome of what the park is designed to do - bring families closer together.
"Building Community Through Fun" is how the City of San Jose Department of PRNS serves its community.

During the ground breaking families were encouraged to bring the whole family. Bounce houses and face painting for the little ones was a big hit as was the fun zone seen below.

During the groundbreaking, families were encouraged to bring the whole family. Bounce houses and face painting for the little ones was a big hit. A seven-stop self-guided tour showcased the bike park's expansive footprint.

A couple of bike riders look over the plan board for the Slopestyle Course. The course will feature several wood features including a Whale Tail and four wall rides with berms near 10 feet high according to Justin Beck.

Victor Solanoy and his son, Myles, who are regulars at the skate park, drool over the tour sign for the Slopestyle Park. The Freeride Zone will feature several wood features from Progressive Bike Ramps including a Whale Tail and multiple Talladega wall rides over 30 feet long.

Dustin Vaughn-Luma his wife Lindsay and their two boys Luke and Dominic took the tour of the plans for the upcoming bike park. Here they look at the Slalom area. The City is planning on hosting a monthly race series for Dual Slalom and Pump Track something the Vaughn-Luma s are excited about.

Dustin Vaughn-Luma, his wife Lindsay and their two boys, Luke, and Dominic took the tour of the plans for the upcoming bike park. Here they look at the Dual Slalom course. The City is planning on hosting a monthly race series for Dual Slalom and Pump Track, something the Vaughn-Luma's are excited about.

Luke Vaughn-Luma 7 from San Jose gets some air in the park.
Both of the Vaughn-Luma kids already ride the park on their bmx bikes. Luke, only 7 years old, gets some air. The bigger kids wanted to hit the fun zone too.

Shawne Portman pokes it out in the Fun Zone
Shawne Portman, Trail Head Racing rider, pokes it out in the Fun Zone.

Even the little tykes on the push bikes were having a great time in the fun zone.
Even the little tykes on the push bikes were having a great time in the fun zone.

Meanwhile, inside California's Largest Skate Park...

Alex Minton from San Jose is a 15 shredder on a board. He sends it out of his favorite feature the Skull Bowl.
Alex Minton from San Jose is a 15-year-old shredder on a board. He sends it out of his favorite feature the Skull Bowl.

Little groms watch as a vet skater rides the world s largest full pipe unofficially .
Little groms watch as a veteran skater rides the world's largest full pipe. Don't want to make the full investment into the sport yet? The LCRSP rents a full line of skate, scoot, bike and pads.

The top line is 30 out of the bowl which puts Cody about 15 above the top of the coping in this photo.... on a scooter.
The top line is 30' out of the bowl, which puts Cody about 15' above the top of the coping in this photo.... on a scooter.

Cody is a 17 year old Park regular from San Jose who started scootering in 2012. Here he is seen throwing a casual back flip out of the big features bowl. Someone needs to sponsor this kid
Cody and many others can't flipping wait for the bike park to open.

Full concentration with the tongue out is what it will take for this to come together by early 2017.
Full concentration with the tongue out is what it will take for this to come together by early 2017 and I'm excited to see it happen!

Be sure to follow the project online at their website www.sjactionsports.com, on their Facebook or Instagram.


MENTIONS: @calledtocreation / @KaliProtectives



Author Info:
calledtocreation avatar

Member since Aug 11, 2011
35 articles

29 Comments
  • 25 0
 Great to see projects like this one developing here in California.
  • 11 0
 HUGE THANK YOU to everyone involved with this, especially the Brad from Kali and Lars from Trailhead. Though San Jose is an hour drive from our home in the east bay, this will be huge for our family. What I wouldn't give to see a park like this get built in Concord/PH/Martinez though.... until that gets sorted, we just have to keep sending our business to the surrounding areas. Kali stoked so many kids at Sea Otter too with the helmet trade ins, props to them for being such a great advocate!
  • 9 0
 This is huge on so many levels... Super pumped to see all the stoke here! With so many supporters within an hour's drive, this place is going to be one fun place to hang out... Big thanks to all showing some THC love here. Smooches!
  • 4 0
 Oooooh yeah! Thanks so much Lars absolutely stoked on this!
  • 4 0
 This is so great for kids and the local area around there, great for the sport, and great for bike businesses. Thank you so much to the city and to the sponsors, especially to Trail Head and Calmar, for supporting and bringing this project to life. Just so awesome. I will be out there with my daughter as soon as she's tall enough to reach the pedals :-)
  • 4 0
 How awesome! Big thanks to both Kali and TrailHead!!! How cool that the owners of both companies made personal appearances at the event? That's rad- and speaks volumes about both companies as well! Support local businesses who support the sport!
  • 6 0
 Finalllly another real Bay Area bike park. Doesn't look like mclaren bike park is ever gonna open but I'll settle for an hour drive! Great news!
  • 5 0
 Finally!!!!!!! NorCal stand up!

Here's a link to an old PB thread with course maps etc......

www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=172914&pagenum=1#commentid6010148
  • 3 0
 Literally down the street from me. Glad to see Lake Cunningham expand out to MTB related activities. Most of that land looked like a waste of space prior. And it's well supervised unlike Calabazas which would have it's share of seedy activities. This hopefully will mean a safe and inviting place for all to learn new skills and have fun on their bike.
  • 6 1
 In n Out is within riding distance!!
  • 1 1
 That make me just as happy
  • 2 2
 And Starbucks!
  • 3 1
 Gotta love the guys at Trail Head. Hands down the best crew, best service and no bs shop I've ever been to. Can't wait to play here. Keep it up CA.
  • 5 0
 Yeah Lars Thomsen!!!!
  • 4 0
 Thanks man!
  • 3 0
 Great write up, Scott. The Vaughn-Lumas are psyched!
  • 2 1
 About Goddamn time! Been in the works for so long stoked to see this happen.
  • 1 0
 I remember cutting class or another to attend the first meeting years ago, and I'm so happy that things are finally rolling!
  • 2 1
 They should totally have a stage of an enduro race through the"fun zone." Body armor is recommended.
  • 1 0
 Great group of people driving this! San Jose should be proud!
  • 1 0
 i cant wait for this to open!
  • 1 0
 Really hyped for a local slalom race series
  • 1 1
 Can't wait for this to open. It's gonna be epic !!
  • 1 1
 I live about 5 mins from LC, can't wait for it to open.
  • 2 1
 Good job San Jose!
  • 1 1
 Soooooooo stoked on this! Can't wait to shred once it opens!
  • 1 1
 Santa Cruz, Aptos, San Jose!!! Now Monterey needs to get on board.
  • 1 1
 Fort Ord?
  • 1 1
 @slow450: I wish - I'm from down there (CV) and there is hardly any legal riding in MoCo.







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