Mapleton council reviews 30% design for Harmony Ridge bike park; residents push for skate facility in town

Mapleton’s City Council on Sept. 17 reviewed a 30% design submittal for a multiuse bike park at Harmony Ridge and heard public pleas to add a skate area closer to town.

Consultants from Avid Trails, G. Brown Design and Sunrise Engineering described a family‑focused facility centered on two asphalt pump tracks, a ‘hub’ plaza with shade and restrooms, progressive downhill trails, and about a mile‑and‑a‑half of cross‑country routes. Jay Hechler of Avid Trails said the site “is accessed by the existing paved path” and emphasized designs that make the park accessible to riders and nonriders alike.

Residents who spoke during the public forum said they want a skate park in Mapleton rather than a remote facility. Jessica Stevenson, who said she has led a volunteer group pushing for an All‑Wheels skate park since 2022, told the council the city’s earlier funding arrangement with a developer included a $3,500,000 donation to develop about 30 acres and asked the council to “give it a spot at least” for skating. Britney Allred, another resident, said a skate facility lowers barriers to outdoor activity for families and caretakers, and noted that skatable asphalt, rather than pump‑track paving, matters to skateboarders.

Designers said they built the bike park to be “all‑wheels” friendly so that skateboards, scooters, roller skates and bicycles can use the asphalt pump tracks. Brian Nicholas of G. Brown Design described playground and plaza elements intended to be inclusive and water‑wise; Taylor Torgerson of Sunrise Engineering said primary pedestrian corridors will be 10–12 feet wide, and parking stalls sized to accommodate vehicles with bike racks. Jay Hechler said the larger pump track is roughly 15,000 square feet and the smaller about 7,500 square feet; the playground area is about 16,000 square feet (roughly a quarter acre). Staff estimated the top bench of the site contains roughly 6 acres of relatively flat land and the total project parcel is about 50 acres when adjacent development parcels are included.

Council members and staff discussed where a skate park could be sited. Designers said it would be possible to redesign the central lawn and beginner pump track area to accommodate a skate area but warned that combining very young beginners and advanced riders on the same pump track can create safety conflicts. Several council members and staff suggested exploring alternate locations—some closer to valley neighborhoods—to improve walk/roll access for younger users. Staff agreed to follow up with the resident group and landowners to identify candidate sites and to return to the council with options.

Funding and schedule: staff said the city negotiated a $3,500,000 developer donation for park development and is pursuing additional grants, including an application to the Utah Outdoor Recreation grant program (staff mentioned $2.8 million as a target match request). The team expects to proceed from 30% to 60% and 90% design, complete construction documents and bid in winter, and target spring 2026 construction with an April 2026 groundbreaking as the optimistic schedule.

The council did not take a formal vote on adding a skate park at the Harmony Ridge site. Instead staff were directed to meet with residents and developers, investigate alternate sites in town, and return with options and updated cost and design implications.

Why it matters: the project is intended to be a regional trailhead and family amenity tied to Mapleton’s Trails Master Plan; decisions about whether to include a dedicated skate facility will affect project cost, layout, phased construction and equitable distribution of recreational amenities across the city.