Local teens propose downhill 'flow' mountain-bike trail in Hyde Park Canyon

Clark Migliore and his cousin and business partner, Ross Ray, presented a proposal at the Hyde Park City Council meeting on May 28 to upgrade an existing single-track in Hyde Park Canyon into a downhill-focused mountain-bike “flow” trail.

The teenagers told the council they would widen the existing path to about 3 to 4 feet, add berms and wooden features on selected turns, and add jumps and drops in places where the terrain allows. “Our plan is to improve the existing trail of Park Canyon. Our plan is to make the trail wider to about 3 to 4 feet, and we're hoping to put some tabletop drums and some berms on every corner,” Clark Migliore said during the presentation.

Nut graf: The proposal aims to fill a regional gap in downhill-style mountain-bike facilities and to create a recreational amenity that advocates say could draw riders from across Cache Valley. Councilmembers and city staff repeatedly cautioned that the idea will require more planning: insurance and contracting questions, coordination with volunteer trail groups, safety measures to separate hikers and riders, and consideration of whether a parallel uphill or hiking path should be added.

The applicants described expected costs and a pricing concept. Citing a professional trail-builder’s estimate, they said a comparable trail could cost about $90,000; the presenters proposed a lower local price and estimated $35,000 to renovate the existing cut trail. “For a trail like this, it's around $20 per foot, and then $75 per linear foot for the wood features. So for that trail, it'd be around $90,000,” Migliore said; he added the pair proposed charging about $8 per foot and $50 per wooden feature to cover design, materials and a small crew.

Councilmembers and staff pressed for clarity on safety, liability and use. Councilmember Phelps (identified in the meeting as Miss Phelps) said a broader parks-and-trails survey should be done to measure resident interest before committing city funds or staff time: “I would say a lot of the ideas we get sound great. I think this is something, and a reason we probably need to to do a parks and trails survey this summer or this fall, and include this kind of thing in it.”

Council members discussed hiking-versus-riding conflicts and possible mitigations. One councilmember suggested building a parallel hiking path or using an existing canyon road for uphill access so the downhill trail could serve riders without forcing them to pedal back up the descent.

The presenters acknowledged logistical obstacles, including bonding and insurance that contractors must carry. They told the council Marcus (city staff) had discussed the possibility of hiring them as part-time city employees to reduce insurance barriers, but they said they expected most realistic paths forward would involve working with volunteer groups, established trail-building organizations and coordinated permitting.

Council direction and next steps: Councilmembers encouraged the presenters to share contact information and meet with the countywide mountain-bike volunteers and the local high-school mountain-bike team (referred to in the meeting as Nika). The mayor and staff offered to help arrange follow-up meetings and to refer the applicants to groups who hold grants and volunteer labor. No formal action or commitment of city funds occurred at the meeting; councilmembers instead recommended further coordination and study.

Ending: The presenters said they would email Marcus and follow up with the contacts suggested by council. Council members asked staff to consider the trail in the parks-and-trails survey outlined later this summer and to connect the applicants with volunteer trail groups.