Bike riders flying again at Richmond’s Dirt World Bike Park
Richmond’s long-awaited BMX park, designed to become a community hub for cycling enthusiasts, remains unofficially open as the city works on final touches.
While construction continues, eager riders have already taken down fences to use the park’s facilities, which include a BMX racetrack, dirt jumps, and a pump track.
AC Thompson, a member of the Dirt World Board, said the park is effectively open because people have pulled down the construction fences and are using it.
“The city is still waiting to officially announce the opening of the park,” Thompson said. “This week, contractors are dealing with that fencing, repainting light poles, installing signs, and dealing with a new gate that was stolen.”
Dirt World, located along the Richmond Greenway, is a rails-to-trails project through central Richmond that was initially developed by volunteers in 2018. Community members transformed a neglected brownfield into a BMX bike park, addressing crime and improving access to recreation in the process. Despite its popularity, the park’s all-dirt terrain has suffered from heavy use and lacks essential amenities like proper drainage, seating, and safety features.
A $1.17 million Prop 68 grant funded the recent construction of the more durable bike recreational facility, which offers a range of terrain for riders of all skill levels. The renovation also includes enhancing a two-block segment of the Richmond Greenway Trail and adding low-maintenance landscaping, murals, signage, and fencing. The improvements will create a sustainable green space and ensure safer access for the community.
The Dirt World Bike Park renovations, coordinated with adjacent urban greening and stormwater projects, will transform over two acres of land into a sustainable, safe park space.
Ian Massey, a local cyclist and community member, expressed excitement for the upgrades. The park consists of a BMX racetrack, dirt jumps, and a pump track.
The pump track is specifically designed to allow riders to practice momentum conservation. The objective is to navigate the track without pedaling, utilizing both legs to pump the bike in sync with the track’s undulations. This technique helps riders maintain angular momentum and sustain forward motion throughout the track.
“It teaches you how to be stable on a bike, and it’s also really good exercise,” Massey said.
The park is still a little rough and needs to be landscaped. Once the track is finalized, an additive will be used to make the soil sustainable.
“It’s like a glue they put on it so it doesn’t fall apart and will be smooth as pavement, which will make it more sustainable and roll better,” Massey said.
Susan Silva stood by, watching her son ride around the new BMX track. “My son loves riding his bike,” she said. “We come here to let him have some free time to do his jumps and ride around.”
Silva first learned about Dirt World on Facebook when it was just an empty dirt lot. “They invited the community to come out and share ideas for the space. They asked for input, and people wanted a bike track. We’ve followed its development ever since,” she said.
Dirt World board members expect the city to announce the park’s official opening in the next few days.
Click to become a Grandview Supporter here, or make a one-time donation here. Grandview is an independent, journalist-run publication exclusively covering Richmond, CA. Every cent we make funds reporting from Richmond's neighborhoods. Copyright © 2024 Grandview Independent, all rights reserved.
