Bolm Vision Planning
Update, February 2024:
Bolm District Park (District 2) in east Austin is currently in the vision planning process which will determine how this 68.1-acre property is utilized by the residents. Halff Associates - the folks developing the project - are soliciting community input, and Austin Ridge Riders is encouraged to see that the round one feedback from 2023 included Trails and a Bike Park. These would be two great amenities especially as Austin does not currently have a dedicated bike park. An ideal bike park could include:
A large asphalt pump/jump track
Slopestyle area with sustained artificial elevation
Progressive jump zone with mellower artificial elevation
Bicycle playground for kids
Progressive drops
We recognize that this park should serve multiple needs in the community, and we would love to see emphasis on things like perimeter loop trails, wildflower meadow, a playground, splash pad, yard games, off-leash dog park, or skate park. It would be ideal to avoid duplicating what we already have in Austin like skate parks, or amenities that take up a lot of space like sports courts. In regard to slopestyle and jump lines, we propose hard surfaces that will ensure all season and all-weather riding. Wood lips, asphalt flats, and porous (paved rubber) for landings. Finally, we are confident there is demand for a trick jump with a mulch landing!
As always, ARR are proud to be in a position to offer guidance to the city whenever it involves the sport we love, and we are stoked when we are approached by community members like Garrett Gray (a resident of District 2 where Bolm Park is located) to help him engage other riders and push for a future that includes more space for bike recreation.
The city wants to hear from riders and community members like you. Please consider the above and then take the city’s Bolm Vision Plan Survey 2…
Click her to take Bolm Vision Plan Survey #2
Click her to take Bolm Vision Plan Survey #2
The city will also be hosting a pop-up event at Black History Month Kids Day on February 24th. RSVP to attend.
Additional Information
ARR would like to emphasize that we understand that Bolm District Park will be a multi-use park, with public interest in other activities. “Bike Parks” are multi-genre, all-ages-and-skill-levels, family-friendly facilities which go great in a park in combination with other adventure sports and nature activities. We strongly support things like the splash pad, pavilion, yard games, wildflower meadow, public art, etc. and believe biking elements can integrate well with them. With some expert input, we can help figure out the ways things will fit.
Austin Ridge Riders has members and followers who are residents of East Austin, and we cooperate with other community groups such as Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, Violet Crown Cycling, Social Cycling Austin, and City programs like Camacho Activity Center, and we would like to be a resource for information on “bike park” concepts; examples from other cities and states; industry standards, and consultants; and information and/or introductions to the various cycling communities of Austin.
Click here to see a PDF of a collaborative vision plan put together by various community members. We hope this will help open meaningful dialogue with project planners leading to a positive outcome for the riders in Austin.
Further Detail Points on Bolm District Park
Why Bolm? It’s a semi-barren, semi-vegetated former industrial landscape; however:
It links to the Southern Walnut Creek Greenbelt trail which connects to many miles of cross-country natural surface singletrack trail. Therefore, developing a “hub,” or destination center, at Bolm, complements an existing cycling network.
It connects to The Driveway, where road cycling events occur.
It will connect to the future expansion of Colorado River hike & bike trail. See the Travis County “Colorado River Corridor Plan”16
Proximity to Camacho Activity Center, a city-run facility which already does biking and other adventure sport programming.
The downtown Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail is already crowded, and Barton Creek Greenbelt sees heavy use.
Former Industrial areas are great for facilities that involve some asphalt and concrete (like pump tracks)
Minimal environmental degradation — no greenery being replaced.
Less controversial with other City residents because you’re not “messing up” an already-loved park.
Seen as a net positive by politicians and the general public — even more so if there is existing contamination that gets remedied in the build process (like a Brownfields redevelopment).
The Railyard Bike Park, Rogers Arkansas, was also built in a former industrial area, and it also connects to nearby XC trails.
Development is exploding in the area. This is an opportunity to get a foot in the door for mountain biking (and other forms of biking) in an area that will be dense-city 10-15 years from now.
Is there Enough Space? Yes.
Hard surface pump & jump track and skills zone would require approximately 4 acres;
A short-course cross-country MTB and Cyclocross course would require about a 1-mile loop, which for context, is the perimeter of 40 acres.
A bicycle playground and traffic garden bike-learning area would fit in 1 acre.
What about Lack of Elevation? Although natural elevation would be ideal, many existing bike parks create artificial elevation.
The Railyard Bike Park is around 50’ of elevation, and approximately 25’ of it was created artificially. (Rough numbers).
The Centennial Park cyclocross course in Fayetteville Arkansas created artificial elevation points.
Bentonville’s “The Castle” created a starting hill structure with stone.
November 2023
Bolm District Park is an approximately 67-acre property on the east side of Hwy 183 just north of the Colorado River. In its current state, it barely looks like a park—more like the former industrial area which it is. It is located in City Council District 3, held by Council Member José Miguel Anwar Velásquez. Because City of Austin only plans new facilities in parks through Vision Planning (formerly called master planning), and Bolm’s vision planning is about to start, it’s important for the biking community to be heard. More particularly, it’s important for residents in a two-mile radius of a “district” park to be heard. So, we are particularly interested in reaching out to riders and allies of bikes, who live in the neighborhoods of Govalle, Johnston Terrace, Knollwood, Holly, and Montopolis.
The “Adventure Park” concept may be a good fit for Bolm District Park. By including things like rock climbing walls, zip lines, natural amphitheaters, BBQ/picnic areas, etc. along with multiple bike disciplines (MTB-XC short course, MTB skills zone, cyclocross, hard-surface pump track, etc.), we reach a wider range of users and political supporters.
The park itself is situated close to the concrete Southern Walnut Creek Urban Trail which goes from Govalle to Walter E. Long (and eventually to Manor). Additionally, expansion of Hike & Bike trails next to the Colorado River’s eastern portions is expected as a strong possibility in the next 20 years. Getting Bolm District Park developed as a Bike Park / Adventure Park on par with others in the country would be an outstanding win for the City.
If you are interested in joining the City meetings you must RSVP ahead of time: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/bolm-district-park-vision-plan
If you’re interested in joining the discussion on possibilities for the park, please feel free to join the Friends of Bolm District Park group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/660108269412165
