Gregory Park Improvements

What is this project?

The Gregory Park Improvement project was proposed by the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists (OORC), a Northwest Arkansas mountain bicycle advocacy group. This proposal establishes a bike park to include sustainable improvements to the existing one-mile perimeter trail for walkers and cyclists, as well as construction of a modular concrete pump track, a modular skills course, and two separate one-direction, gravity-flow downhill bicycle trails -- one for beginners and one for intermediate riders.  

As a follow-up to the trail improvements, the existing parking lot at the northeast corner will be re-graded and paved to better handle park visitors, In addition, improvements are planned for day-use facilities including the pavilion, new picnic tables, new paved access paths, and new signage. A hammock hangout that will be constructed as an Eagle Scout service project. A mural depicting a cyclist and an Arkansas-native skink will be applied by visual artist Jason Jones. The mural is being donated to the City of Fayetteville from OORC with support from Experience Fayetteville.

Why is this project important?

The trails will serve as a trail-based recreation facility for Fayetteville, but will also serve as a practice course for nearby school teams participating in the new National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) mountain biking programs for student athletes in the US. The additional park improvements are being constructed to provide better access and to handle increased usage at the park.

What is the current status?

All of the trail improvement work has been completed with the exception of final signage installation which is anticipated to be completed in mid-May.  The concrete pump track was fabricated off-site by Progressive Bike Ramps of Joplin, MO and installed by Progressive Trail Design (PTD) of Fayetteville. The skills park track features were constructed and installed by Fast Rack Modern Cycling Solutions of Fort Smith, AR. The two downhill flow trails and perimeter trail improvements were also completed by PTD.

The parking lot and day-use improvements are currently being contracted and hopefully will be completed by Fall 2019.

How was it funded?

The OORC received a trail improvement grant for implementation of this project and Fayetteville Parks and Recreation is providing assistance through donations of stone, gravel, soil, and culvert materials, as well as the commitment to construct a new paved parking lot once trail construction is complete.  

Additional improvements planned by Fayetteville Parks and Recreation include.

  • Trailhead Sign/Information Kiosk w/ map
  • Park rules sign
  • Park entry sign on Sycamore at park entry and perhaps at the corner of Sycamore and Woolsey
  • Pavilion improvements
  • ADA access to pavilion
  • ADA table and access on site
  • Terracing on north side of pavilion for spectator seating
  • Picnic tables for pavilion
  • Picnic tables for site picnic area
  • Benches
  • On-trail signage
  • Drainage improvements