Polk County to build new mountain bike park for Des Moines area

Around 50 acres of undeveloped land connecting Des Moines and Pleasant Hill will be turned into a new mountain bike park, Polk County Conservation director Rich Leopold told Axios Tuesday.

Why it matters: Recreational advocates say the metro is in need of another public park, as evidenced by a 40% jump in trail usage last year.

• Plus, Copper Creek Mountain Bike Park will also function as a massive rain garden to improve water quality and reduce flooding.

State of play: Polk County recently purchased the land — which is near a flood plain and connects to the Gay Lea Wilson Trail just off East University Ave. — for $300K.

• Leopold said multiple attempts to develop parts of the site by previous owners have failed, largely because of its rough terrain.

Lemons to lemonade: While traditional development flunked, the property is ideal for a mountain bike park because its bumpy surface can be used as jumps, Leopold said.

• It's also conveniently located between developed areas of the two cities, allowing planners to integrate trails and green space.

Details: The county's drafted plans call for 4.5 miles of dirt tracks oriented for mountain biking, winter fat biking and hiking.

• A pump track and skills area would include rocks and other native landscaping features for bikers.
• A wetland area would help filter water from Copper Creek before it enters the adjacent Fourmile Creek.

What's ahead: County officials say the roughly $600K project could be completed in 2024, but the timeline is dependent on fundraising and grants.

• Some of the development costs could come from a special water quality and conservation improvement bond that will be on the November ballot.