Hello- I'm Kyle. FYI got permission from New Harmonie to build a  pump track... possibly a few of them, and possibly a skills park. 

Unfortunately there is not a massive amount of soil for use and due to the location of the park, there are few construction sites that are looking to ditch excess fill. For starters, hoping to use existing surface subgrade while creating ditches for runoff.

Long term plans (hopefully) include interconnected pump tracks, dirt jumps (table tops, none exceeding 4 or 5 feet due to liability reasons) among other features.

Would like those of you who have experience and knowledge of flow lines, transitions, and dimentions of such features to contact me. Also if you know what some of the features are in the attached picture are let me know.

Work days and other info regarding work at Harmonie are posted on the HMBA forum at www.hmba.org  under the Harmonie portion of the forum.

Additionally, there is a new organization, the Evansville area Trails Coalition, who grassroots efforts are to promote paved path and natural surface trails ..... which I'm pushing to include other features such as pump tracks as an avenue into developing a BMX/MTB skills park in the Evansville Metro area.

Lastly, future plans for Harmonie include up to 20 miles of additional advanced single track...

That's the buzz- Be safe. -Kyle

lol. just noticed the subject icon. lol

thanks for changing it-   

Wow, that second one looks like a lot of fun!

I think I actually met you on the riverfront not too long ago. I was on a purple bike with white spokes.

This is an awesome idea and I'm actually surprised they gave you permission to do this.  I'm anxious to see what develops and will probably try to make it to a work day or two. 

If you're looking for any terrain inspiration, these guys have done some amazing work:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=373720

Yep- you met me on the river. Hope things are well....

Regarding Harmonie: I'm going to take it one step at a time... First pump tracks, then I'll begin to push some of the other skills park related elements. Harmonie is up for anything that will attract visitors. Key points are: treding very lightly in how we interact with the park mgt. I've noticed if we work for them, they'll work for us. They don;t know terribly much about cycling, but see the buzz and the excitement the trail has created and are all about it, plus additions. They have shown interest in more facilities, and facilities I'll give them if there is a solid base of support from riders who are willing to lend a hand everyonce in awhile...

The great thing about the state parks are any facility in the aprk boundaries are under state liability. As long as you have ample sinage and are giving people options  (such as with the planned advanced trails) litigation is less of a factor. Pump tracks are phase one of reducing liability for everyone..... the skills park is also a liability reducer for the advanced trails to come but has a multi use purpose.

win win eh? 

I'm going to call a meeting sometime soon regarding skills park development... I would like others input, and I am asking for help from everyone if they're interested....

-Kyle

does everyone have the pump track book? if not shoot me an email. Kyle evvemabike@gmail.com

Ben Somebodyorother from www.pumptrackbuilder.com called me today. Some how he knows about the efforts at Harmonie. He will be in the area end of June/Beginning of july and would like to swing by and offer any assistance needed. He was impressed with the fact that Harmonie would be #2 pump track/skills park site, in a state park in the nation. Most others are in city county municipalities, or privately owned. Creating these in the confines of state and or federal land management juristiction is a huge ordeal.... Just a few successes could open a can of beer. A really good can of beer.

Talked to Harmonie park management again today, and they are all for it... They see these features as a liability reducer, not a liability..... Which is exactly what they are... Ben the pump track dood has some interesting studies from some of the city/county tracks and trails he's built, on the reduction of trail injuries correlating to the usage of pump tracks and skills parks. Ammo is good.

-peace

That's good news.

Nathan- a note about how facilities such as MTB trails, pump tracks, skills parks, and even dirt jumps are possible on state or federal property....... All state and federal parks, and all state and federal property for that matter, fall under a different insurance/liability.... for instance people hurting themselves at Harmonie's pool or horse trails (both of which happened last year).... if they wanted to file a lawsuit against the park they would not easily be able to file in the standard senses, as they would be filing what is called a tort claim against the Federal Government, with applicable laws specific to the state of occurance. Tort claims are good in that..................

tort claims act n. a federal or state act which, under certain conditions, waives governmental immunity and allows lawsuits by people who claim they have been harmed by torts (wrongful acts), including negligence, by government agencies or their employees. These acts also establish the procedure by which such claims are made. Before the enactment of tort claims acts, government bodies could not be sued without the specific permission of the government. The Federal version is the Federal Tort Claims Act

But also stops many fluff lawsuits, and help (in our case specifically) state and federal recreational facilities from fearing to allow certain activities to occur in their boundaries. Example: Dans comp fears of whatever it was they were going to build on their property, being so expensive for liability coverage and what not,................. all that doesn't exist at Harmonie, as long as there are 'options',adequate sinage, and design standards that are safety minded, ie tabletops vs gap jumps....and helmets are mandatory  at Harmonie, lest the conservation officers fine you to oblivion......

 

http://www.quintonpetix.com/fedtorac.htm

if anyone is into law regarding tort claims.....

Seeking to create Bike park under Evansville Parks and Rec, or under county parks/ County commissioners....

I have a meeting with EVV Parks and Rec next week. If you are pissing yourself with glee and would like to be at the forefront of such an endevor, get on board....

Design discussion Friday 6.12.9,  8pm  at the Pasgedig Mochyn Daear (the pub in my basement)..... If you are going to attend call 204.0551 for addy and directions....

If you do not like and or are allergic to animals you might want to reconsider. If you are a firearm permit holder you are welcome to open and or conceal carry on my property. Actually, it's encouraged.

Hope to see you out on the 12th- Kyle

Is your parks meeting with Dan Schall or Glenn Boberg?

Probably Schall... He'll be back in the office next week.... Got infoz? gimmie a ring. 204.0551

Not alot of insider info, I've just met the guy a couple of times for a project I was working at E-Ville youth baseball east.

I would more than likely be willing to put in some cad work on your projects if needed.

cool thanks....

there are a few open areas for use such as the state hospital grounds, just east of the vann soccer fields that is now city park property... and what is to come of the whole Roberts complex if the downtown stadium is built?

food for thought, if anyone has ideas you would like to see incoorporated please don't be shy.... a park for the people, by the people.

Is that Welsh or Elvish?  What does it mean?

Welsh, meaning 'The Fat Badger'.... My mom is a Welshie and I've got family there, lived there for a stint when I was young, and visit often. And they have awesome singletrack.

I want to see a nice wallride. I have yet to visit a park with a nice, big wallride with a trannied bank run-up.













Proceed with the jokes about "trannied".