DENVER, Jul. 21, 2016  – Mayor Michael B. Hancock, city officials and community members today celebrated the opening of the new Ruby Hill Bike Park, the largest public bike park in the Denver metro area.

Located on the southwest side of Ruby Hill Park, the bike park is a 7.5-acre premier recreation and play experience that features a slopestyle course, dirt jumps, pump tracks, and a skills course. The diverse terrain provides unique riding opportunities for riders of any age and skill levels. Additionally, a 1.7-mile multi-use natural surface loop trail around the perimeter of Ruby Hill Park connects the bike park to a variety of amenities throughout the park.

“Our parks bring our neighborhoods together, and this new world-class urban terrain bike park will allow so many, especially our young people, to experience a new, fun park amenity,” Mayor Hancock said. “New park features like the Ruby Hill Bike Park are driving improvements in our parks that will keep our whole system uniquely Denver – active and vibrant – for generations to come.”

The bike park is part of the second phase of Denver Parks and Recreation’s multi-phase Master Plan to revitalize Ruby Hill Park. Phase 2 also includes the addition of volleyball and basketball courts, a skate skills area and improvements to the parking area.  Phase 1 of the Master Plan included park-wide irrigation replacement and new park facilities on the upper west side of the park: new playground area, picnic shelter, pavilion, restroom, community garden, upgraded walkways, new upper roadway and parking lots.

The Ruby Hill Bike Park is the result of a partnership between Denver Parks and Recreation and Denver Public Works with support from Winter Park Resort, the Walton Family Foundation and community members who are passionate about connecting youth to nature through biking and active recreation in urban settings.

“The Ruby Hill Bike Park would not be possible without the financial assistance we received from our partners at Winter Park Resort and the Walton Family Foundation,” said Happy Haynes, Executive Director of Denver Parks and Recreation. “Volunteers from the community will assist in maintaining the park and inspiring others to experience the thrill of mountain biking”.

A grand opening community celebration for Ruby Hill Bike Park will take place Saturday, July 23, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and includes music, food trucks, professional rider demonstrations and children’s activities.

Ruby Hill Park is located off South Platte River Drive and West Florida Avenue and offers 80 acres of green grass and panoramic views of both the Rocky Mountains and the Denver skyline. The bike park is open every day during daylight hours.

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About Ruby Hill Bike Park

The Ruby Hill Bike Park is a regional amenity located within the City and County of Denver along the South Platte River.  The park’s natural topography with more than fifty feet of elevation difference between the top and bottom of the bike park provide a great riding experience as well as views of the city skyline.  The bike park will provide a family-friendly environment where riders of all skill levels can come and practice biking skills. The bike park is designed with a series of trails and features of varying size and difficulty that allow novice to experienced riders to develop skills and confidence as they progress through the unique challenges of each of the trails and features. The following features are incorporated into the bike park:

• Small and Large Pump Track: Designed to teach riders how to use their momentum and body movement to ride the track without pedaling
• Skills Course: Designed to teach basic bike handling skills and balance that would be used on a trail ride or on more advanced features found in the park; including rock causeways, ladder bridges, and banked turns
• Dirt Jumps: Allow users to practice jumping skills starting with novice jumps and progressing up to advanced jumps
• Slope Style Course: Consists of novice to expert lines (including a special ‘professional’ line) featuring a series of fabricated ramps and wall rides, berms, rollers, table top jumps, and a return trail with observation areas throughout the park