This mobile workshop will take attendees to Cheasty Greenspace, a 43+ acre forest. The project is a collaborative effort with Community leaders from Friends of Cheasty Greenspace Mt. View (FCGMV), Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, and Seattle Parks and Recreation, working on the Cheasty Mt. Bike Pilot project to evaluate mountain biking in a natural area.
In Seattle’s diverse southeastern neighborhoods, a visionary group of residents nurtured an ambitious dream: crafting mountain bike trails through a green space needing access and restoration. Community leaders from Friends of Cheasty Greenspace Mt. View (FCGMV) and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance will share the experience of transforming Cheasty Greenspace into a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with a mission to introduce a fun, recreational opportunity to the neighbors, with a particular focus on youth, to ignite their passion for biking and nature.
This workshop will explore the design choices and considerations behind Seattle’s first forested mountain biking trails, crafted through the dedicated efforts of FCGMV, a volunteer organization committed to restoring Cheasty Greenspace. Discover how this project revitalized the Rainier Valley’s most extensive wooded parkland, providing a nature gateway for families and neighbors. Led by FCGMV and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance experts, experience the trail system firsthand. Additionally, learn about ongoing habitat restoration initiatives, including garbage removal, invasive plant control, and planting 16,000 native trees and shrubs since 2007. Learn about the Green Seattle Partnership forest stewards and their bi-monthly, all-ages work parties, contributing to the ongoing success of building Seattle’s inaugural forested mountain bike park. Bring your curiosity, energy, and comfortable clothes for this unique urban mountain biking experience.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Discuss how to balance divergent perspectives from the public in the creation of innovative park projects.
- Recognize design principles, challenges, and solutions for building dedicated mountain bike trails as well as shared-use trails in an urban setting.
- Identify successful strategies for inclusive public engagement in the development of a park project.
- Recognize the significance of collaborative efforts by community leaders and organizations; discover how collaborative design choices, maintenance, and programs can increase community support.
