FROM STAFF REPORTS

PELHAM – Members of the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) mountain biking club recently met with representatives of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Shelby County and other park users to present ideas for increasing visitation at Oak Mountain State Park.

BUMP proposed the extension of the existing 17-mile mountain biking trail to at least 25 miles, in an effort to achieve “epic” trail status by the International Mountain Biking Association.

The first phase of the proposal would involve building a wide multi-use trail and an accompanying single-track trail across Double Oak Lake from the present swimming beach and day use areas. The multi-use trail would be a 1.5 mile loop suited to pedestrians and casual cyclists and would include a bridge over the dam spillway. The single-track trail would help re-route sections of track now on roads.

BUMP said it would rely on volunteer labor and financial assistance from Shelby County and other sponsors for the renovations