Since April of this year, MORCA and our MTB community have been rallying for a bike park and dedicated mountain bike trails within the Old Capitol Site Master Plan. As the City of Monterey nears completion of its draft plan for this new park space, the gravity of this opportunity is starting to weigh heavy on those involved.
One of MORCA’s current objectives is to find publicly accessible land on which to develop purpose-built mountain bike trails, with features that riders are growing more accustomed to seeing on trails and in bike parks. MORCA recognizes that despite access to the vast and incredible network of trails which Fort Ord offers, intentional trail design that includes bike-specific features like berms, jumps, and drops does not exist in Monterey County. On behalf of our community, we are committed to changing that.
Though alternative locations and partners are being discussed, the Old Capitol Site represents one of the best chances we have to create the dedicated space we deserve. It also represents an exceptionally rare opportunity for the City of Monterey. Situated within safe riding distance to many neighborhoods, dedicated bike routes, and along Iris Canyon Road, this location could catalyze a safe multi-modal transportation greenway that links three city park spaces and connects to the Bay Recreation Trail less than two miles away. It would not be the first time that a bike park project led to significant communitywide benefits far beyond cycling.
The greatest potential for a bike park at the Old Capitol Site lays in the fact that the City of Monterey is already committed to developing trails. But in a city that has 37 park spaces and hundreds of dirt roads and trails for hiking and walking – and zero trail access for bikes – is building more hiking trails really a good use of resources?
Bicycling grew more than any other outdoor sport from 2022 to 2023, and mountain biking is more popular than ever among youth. The National Interscholastic Cycling Association, which provides mountain bike programing and competition for middle school and high school student athletes, now has chapters in 32 states with more than 25,000 participants. Monterey has a golden opportunity to embrace the potential of mountain biking and cycling through the Old Capitol site, an opportunity that many other communities would go to great lengths for. Monterey also has an opportunity to fix a glaring inequity regarding inclusive access to nature within city limits.
All this potential is right at our fingertips – but only if Monterey’s City Council votes to support it. One would think that in a city which already has countless hiking trails, dozens and dozens of sports fields and courts, and a multi-million-dollar skate park, creating a dedicated space for mountain biking would be a stated priority for any new trails or park space.
The Old Capitol Site is our best chance to make it happen. MORCA urges all members of our greater cycling and outdoor recreation community to send letters to Mayor Williamson, City Manager Uslar, and members of the City Council. Hearing directly from our youth would be especially powerful but we encourage all members of our community to request support from our community leaders. Make a phone call, send a letter or email, and join MORCA and our greater MTB community at City Hall on December 11 at 5:30pm.
There is power in numbers – now is the time for action, before it is too late!
Mayor Tyler Williamson: twilliamson@monterey.org, (831) 646-3760
City Manager Hans Uslar: uslar@monterey.org, (831) 646-3760
City Council Member Kim Barber: kbarber@monterey.org, (831) 646-3760
City Council Member Gino Garcia: ggarcia@monterey.org, (831) 646-3760
City Council Member Alan Haffa: haffa@monterey.org, (831) 646-3760
City Council Member Ed Smith: smith@monterey.org, (831) 646-3760