Yellowhead County opens Mountain Bike Trails and Skills Park in Brule
Just in time for the end of the school year and with everyone anxious to get outside for some fun summer activities, Yellowhead County has opened their new bike park in Brule!
While horses, voyageur canoes, hiking and history buffs have long been associated with exploring and recreation activities in the historic Brule area, there is a new breed of recreational transport gaining traction in the woods and trails of the hamlet.
On June 12, 2018, approximately 120 excited residents and visitors attended the grand opening of the newly finished Brule Bike Park in Yellowhead County. Attendees at the event got a chance to ride the new trails and bike park features and chow down on some burgers after building up an appetite from riding the newly completed park.
The Brule Bike Park is a new recreation facility for bike riders of all ages and skill levels. Based on the turnout and quality of trails and features (there were more attendees that the actual number of residents that live in the hamlet) there will likely be regular visitors coming from nearby areas, as well visitors coming to the area for camping, bike riding and the other regular recreational activities.
All the festivities and fun brought out a local special guest from his usual elusive lifestyle to take part in the grand opening – Sasky Da Sasquatch made a brief appearance to cheer on the riders and other attendees in Brule.
While many Yellowhead County hamlets have had new asphalt pump tracks built over the last two years, the community of Brule opted to go with a more traditional bike park featuring a dirt pump track, dirt jumps, drops, skinnies, suspension bridge, dragon’s back -wooden track feature, return loops, other wood and rock obstacle/balance features.
Kelsi Wallace of the Brule Community Society worked closely with Yellowhead County in the planning, coordinating, and execution of the bike park. The park was built by Hinton local Nathan Froehler whose Calgary based company ‘Creating Flow Trail Designs’ is known for developing world-class trails. Project development has been 6 months of work time during 2017 and 2018.
In addition to the $100,000 from Yellowhead County for the concept, design, and building of the park, additional funding and in-kind donations came from local businesses, government grants and work put in by local volunteers. Phase 2 expansion plans will be dependent on future funding.
The event sponsors included Secure Energy who sponsored the barbecue and brought in their trailer BBQ and Vicious Cycle who had demo bikes and gave bike repair assistance to any riders who needed a quick tune-up or repair.
Voting for the Brule bike park’s official name will start soon. The top three names chosen from the submissions can be voted for online, with the winner receiving a brand new dirt jump bike!
Brule Bike Park Grand Opening Details:
• 120+ attendees of all ages!
• Park made by: Creating Flow Trail Designs with contributions from local business and volunteers Features: Dirt pump track, dirt jumps, drops, skinnies, suspension bridge, dragon’s back -wooden track feature, return loops, other wood and rock obstacle/balance features
New LEKO Precast outhouse on-site for park users Cost of park: $100,000
Event Sponsors: Secure Energy BBQ; Vicious Cycle with demo bikes and repair assistance
Bike helmets were awarded to eight lucky winners Yellowhead County worked closely with Kelsi Wallace of the Brule Community Society in the planning, coordinating, and execution of the bike park
Project development has been 6 months of work time during 2017 and 2018
Future plans: Phase 2 expansion dependent on future funding
Bike Park Naming Contest: Names have been submitted and will be finalized, with voting to begin soon!
Bike Park Donators, Contributors and Volunteers:
• Yellowhead County
• Blue Diamond Machining
• Brule Community Society
• Calvin Wallator
• Foothills Concrete
• Government of Alberta (CFEP Grant)
• Hertz Rentals (Hinton)
• West Central Contracting
• West Fraser Mills