Sager Creek Mountain Bike Trail dedicated
John Brown University officials gathered with supporters to officially dedicate the Sager Creek Mountain Bike Trail on Nov. 4.
The new five-mile long trail was completed earlier this year and hosted it’s first mountain bike competition in September.
The trail was made possible through a $95,000 gift from the Walton Family Foundation, a $75,000 gift from the Simmons family and land provided by the university, according to Steve Beers, vice president of student development. The new trail runs along Sager Creek and offers both an easy and medium
course to accommodate riders of various skill levels. It is open to the public.
Northwest Arkansas is becoming a world class destination for mountain bike trails, said Gary Vernon, of Walmart Family Foundation. There are about 15 trails in the region, including the newest trail in Siloam Springs. The trail will serve as a gateway for travelers coming into the area from the west, and a gateway for those who are new to the sport because of its beginner friendly elements, he said.
“Congratulations Siloam Springs you’re officially a trail town!” Vernon said.
Vernon said when his family moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2003 there were no mountain bike trails. The area has made so much progress that the International Mountain Bicycling Association World Summit will be held in Bentonville this week.
Todd Simmons, CEO of Simmons Foods, said he was excited about the new trail on both a personal level and a company level. The trail offers a place where people can get outside and improve not only their physical health, but their spiritual and mental health as well, he said. Simmons said he had also enjoyed biking on the trail with his children and family friends.
“Certainly we like investing in communities where our employees are, where they can invest in their health, and this is a wonderful place to do that,” Simmons said.