Written by Kevin Adams Co-founder of Wheel Fun

In the heart of Short Creek Valley near Colorado City in northern Mohave County, a new bike skills park is taking shape that will give local youth and families a place to ride, learn, and spend time outdoors together.

Wheel Fun is building another bike skills park. Our most ambitious and unique to date.

At Wheel Fun, we believe bikes can do more than provide fun. They help build stronger, healthier communities. The Short Creek Valley Bike Skills Park is a powerful example of what happens when local leadership, community vision, and recreation partners work together.

Located in the heart of Short Creek Valley on the Arizona-Utah border, the park represents an exciting opportunity for Mohave County and the communities it serves.

A Partnership for Community Development

The project is being developed on an approximately 11 acre site in Colorado City through a partnership between the United Effort Plan Trust, Wheel Fun, and Mohave County, with each organization playing an important role. Wheel Fun and the UEP Trust, which owns the parcel, have entered into a 15 year public recreation lease for the site.

Wheel Fun is leading the design and construction of the park’s riding features, while Mohave County is leading development of the park’s amenities and site infrastructure.

The estimated cost for the core riding features is $455,595, with community amenities projected to add up to $1.5 million.

On February 17, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Wheel Fun’s $135,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to help support the project.

During the meeting, Ethan Barlow addressed the Board, sharing how the park will create new opportunities for youth and families in the Short Creek Valley. Ethan is both a Wheel Fun coach and a rider on the Creek Valley Condors, the local NICA mountain bike team, and spoke about the importance of having a place where young riders can safely build skills and confidence.

 

 

Community voices were an important part of the conversation that day. Alex Timpson, the son of local resident Mandy Blackmore, also spoke to the Board, offering a young rider’s perspective on what a bike park like this could mean for kids growing up in the community. Alex is also a member of the Creek Valley Condors, representing the pride and spirit of local youth who will benefit from expanded recreation opportunities.

 

 

The conversation even reached local classrooms. Natalie Hammond, Principal of Cottonwood Elementary School in Colorado City and a Wheel Fun board member, streamed the live Board meeting for one of her classes, giving students a chance to watch the presentation and see how decisions about their community are made.

Students gathered around a screen to watch the meeting live, seeing firsthand how projects that affect their community move forward. For many of these students, the park being discussed on screen could soon become a place where they ride, learn, and spend time outdoors with friends.

 

A Park Designed for Riders of All Abilities

The Short Creek Valley Bike Skills Park will welcome riders of all ages and skill levels. The park is designed with progressive features so beginners can build confidence while experienced riders can challenge themselves.

Planned features include:

  • A natural surface pump track
  • 1 to 1.5 miles of cross country singletrack with integrated progression features
  • Green, blue, and black flow lines
  • Supporting amenities including parking, shade structures, utilities, and ADA accessible pathways

By providing a safe environment to practice and learn, bike skills parks help riders develop confidence while promoting healthy, active lifestyles.

Help Wheel Fun Build the Park

Partial funding for the project comes from three important public programs.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program supports projects that improve quality of life in underserved communities. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provides matching grants that help states and local governments expand public access to parks, trails, and outdoor recreation. The Arizona Heritage Fund’s Local, Regional, and State Parks (LRSP) program provides matching grants to develop public outdoor recreation facilities across Arizona.

Mohave County is leading the CDBG and LWCF grant processes, while Wheel Fun is leading the LRSP grant effort and raising the additional private and public funds needed to complete the park.

Arizona Complete Health has already stepped forward as the park’s first private backer, and additional partners are expected to join the effort.

Community support will be critical to making this park a reality. Wheel Fun is actively seeking sponsors, foundations, and community partners who want to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for youth and families in the Short Creek Valley.

Organizations and individuals interested in supporting the project are encouraged to connect with Wheel Fun to help bring this park to life.

A Historic First for Mohave County

Wheel Fun and the UEP Trust’s long term goal is to donate the completed park and amenities to Mohave County, establishing the first County Park in Supervisor District 1 and the first county park north of the Grand Canyon.

In a region with limited public recreation infrastructure, this project represents a meaningful investment in outdoor access and community well being.

Residents of Colorado City, Centennial Park, and Cane Beds, Arizona, along with neighboring Hildale and Apple Valley, Utah, will soon have a dedicated space where families, youth riders, and cycling enthusiasts can safely develop their skills and enjoy the outdoors.

Looking Ahead

Funding permitting, construction of the Short Creek Valley Bike Skills Park is scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Once complete, the park will provide a new gathering place for recreation, youth engagement, and outdoor activity in the Short Creek Valley.

Wheel Fun is proud to partner with the UEP Trust and Mohave County to bring this project to life. Together, we are demonstrating that even a small park can have a big impact by creating opportunities for people to get outside, get active, and connect with their community.

Wheel Fun looks forward to seeing riders of all ages enjoying the park and watching it grow into a cornerstone of recreation in northern Mohave County.