Duluth Traverse Trailheads and Bike Playground / Skills Area
Project Status: Preliminary Design
Project Overview:
The Duluth Traverse (DT) is a multi-use trail system linking neighborhoods and people to green spaces and our parks. It's a single-track, natural surface, mountain-bike optimized trail, stretching the entire ridge line of Duluth from Lester Park in the east to Chambers Grove Park in the west. In 2018, the DT was designated as a regionally significant trail by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission.
This DT Trailheads and bicycle playground/skills area project is a shared vision between The City of Duluth and the Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS), our local mountain bike advocacy organization, to improve DT trailheads across the system and to develop a new bicycle playground to better meet our community's outdoor recreation needs.
Using the Duluth Traverse Mini-Master Plan as guiding document (see Important Documents section below) trailhead improvements may include elements such as: lighting, restrooms, drinking water, signage and wayfinding.
The two trailheads selected for improvement will be the trailhead for the Piedmont Trail Center, located at 2226 Hutchinson Rd, and Lester Park, located at 61 Lester River Road.
The Lester Park bicycle playground/skills area will be an intentionally designed skill development area with bike-optimized features to allow riders to explore and progress their abilities in a fun and easily repeatable environment. While the specific features will vary depending on the targeted skill level, bicycle playgrounds/skills areas often include elements like a pump track or rollers, wood bridges, tunnels, teeter-totters, logs, balance elements, and progressive jumps and drops. For more information on bike playgrounds, click here
Project Update:
A survey was launched in August to gather information from the community about a potential bicycle playground/skills development area. The survey closed on August 31 with a total of 704 respondents.
A community input session was held on Wednesday, May 28 from 6-7:30 pm at Duluth City Hall.
If you are interested in getting involved with the project, please reach out to your preferred partner organization.
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) - Ansel Schimpff at ExecutiveDirector@COGGS.com
Duluth Foot Trails Alliance (DuFTA) - Jesse Schomberg at DuluthFootTrails@gmail.com
Duluth Cross-Country Ski Club (DXC) - Jonathan Rova at Rova@DuluthXC.com
Funding Source:
The City of Duluth anticipates submitting an application for grant funding through the Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission in July 2025. Funding awards would be announced in late fall 2025. Match funding for the project is coming from the Parks Fund and COGGS.
Timeline:
August 2024 - Bicycle playground/skills area survey
Spring 2024 - Prepare conceptual designs
May 22 - June 1, 2025 - Community survey completed to gather feedback on conceptual plans
Summer 2025 - Refine designs based on feedback, fundraising, and grant application submittal
Spring 2026 - Final design (pending fundraising)
Spring 2027 - Start construction (pending fundraising)
Project Partners:
Cyclists of the Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS)
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC)
