Photo Credit: Larry Huff
Etched into the natural terrain of an 80-acre urban park is Denver Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) Ruby Hill Bike Park. Unveiled in July 2016, Ruby Hill, the largest public bike park, is a 7.5-acre premier recreation and play experience that features a slopestyle course, dirt jumps, pump tracks, a skills course, and a 1.7-mile loop trail around the park’s perimeter.
With more than 50 feet of elevation difference between the top and bottom of the bike park, the natural topography, paired with sights of the city skyline, boast an enthralling riding experience. The gravity-fed slopestyle course and dirt jumps provide lines of varying difficulty, from beginner to advanced. The continuous loops of two pump tracks—small and large—offer opportunities for riders of any age and skill level, from small children with pedal-less “strider” bicycles to seasoned adult riders, to build confidence. The skills course beckons beginner and intermediate riders to test their abilities on a variety of features designed to improve balance and bike handling. Ultimately, the diverse landscape and location invite riders of all ages and skill levels to get their wheels spinning!
The trending addition of bike parks to public spaces is turning heads nationwide. Ruby Hill Bike Park’s popularity serves its purpose, but proper maintenance is essential. One of the core elements of upkeep includes irrigating the bike park to maintain dirt jumps and trails. Irrigation stabilizes the moisture necessary to preserve dirt for repeated rides. Under-watering produces dry dirt that will crumble, erode, and disintegrate. Over-watering drowns dirt, which washes away fine soil, floods features, and generates unwanted mud. That is to say, the purpose of irrigating the bike park is centered on stabilizing moisture for long-lasting, ride-ready dirt. DPR’s Bike Park Operations Supervisor, Deak Brown, lends insight on the strategies behind attaining and sustaining successful irrigation of bike parks. Here are five keys to irrigation that he has integrated into preserving features for riders’ unending enjoyment.