The first phase of the Big Rock Quarry Bike Park in North Little Rock has officially opened to the public. City leaders and eager cyclists gathered for the grand opening of an asphalt pump track on Jan. 13.
The pump track, paid for with around $400,000 of American Recovery Act funds, was built by industry leaders American Ramp Company and Velosolutions. North Little Rock mayor Terry Hartwick was inspired by similar parks in Northwest Arkansas like Runway Bike Park in Springdale.
“This is something we can all be very proud of,” Hartwick said. “This is not one person, this is a group of people making this happen.”
Among the group of people making it happen is Dave Larson, owner of Angry Dave’s Bike Shop in North Little Rock.
“This is a big deal for the city of North Little Rock and cycling in Central Arkansas,” Larson said. “Hopefully further than Central Arkansas. Hopefully this will be what we need to attract a lot of people into the city. I've got to thank the mayor, [parks director] Steve Shields and everybody that's been involved in this project. They have made it a lot easier to get things to happen in the city and it is amazing.”
The pump track is just the first piece of a plan for an expansive bike park. Plans call for downhill mountain bike trails, cross country mountain bike skills trails, asphalt flow trails and a bicycle playground. A rendering of the plan also includes a large amphitheater for concerts and events.
“This is phase one,” Larson said. “Phase two is coming. Give us a minute because we're on page one of that, but there is more in store and we will make lots of noise when it's time.”
