It was October 10, 2016, that the City of Thousand Oaks approved the Sapwi Trails Community Park master plan, including bike park amenities for which CORBA and the mountain biking community had so enthusiastically advocated.

Since that time the Conejo Recreation and Parks Department (CRPD) have been moving the project forward. They received grant funding from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the City of Thousand Oaks and other sources for park facilities such as fencing, parking, playground, and other amenities. CRPD have awarded a construction contract, and work on the larger park facilities has begun.

Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña, CORBAs Sapwi Comittee at the Groundbreaking Ceremony

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on October 21, with Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña, Dignitaries from the Conejo Open Space Conservation Foundation, Conejo Rec and Parks District Board, and user groups including CORBA’s Sapwi trails committee.

Earlier this year CORBA formed the Sapwi Committee to oversee the project. The committee have been meeting monthly, discussing the park, refining our vision, and strategizing our best path forward.

CORBA President Steve Messer Receives REI Grant for Sapwi Bike Park

CORBA received a grant of $15,000 from our friends at REI to get the project underway. We’re putting that seed funding to good use, enlisting the services of professional bike park design firm FlowRide Concepts to do the design. They have designed some of the most fun bike parks in the country and around the world.

Discussing our vision with Shea from FlowRide Concepts

Dirt sculptor Shea from FlowRide met with committee members in October, and spent two days assessing the site. He also had extensive discussions with CRPD, to help optimize the site and layout of the bike park. The design process is now underway.

Sapwi Trails Community Park will also include up to five miles of multi-use singletrack trails that could host cross country running meets, training rides for high school mountain bikers and cross-country runners, or even cyclocross events. Work on the first section of those trails began on October 21.

These multi-use trails will also include a number of optional skill-building features for cyclists. These “bike skill stations” will be added over time, and may include rock gardens, jumps, log skinnies or other fun and skill-building features, and will be signed one-way and bike-only.

While many volunteers worked on the first new trail, about 35 volunteers began work on the first of those bike skill stations, an alternate line that will include tabletop jumps, berms and rollers. See the complete report here.

You can help make Sapwi Bike park happen. Donate to the cause at https://win.imba.com/digin?chapter=223846. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and watch for volunteer work days to be scheduled over the coming months.

With your help, we hope to be riding Sapwi Bike Park’s first phase next summer.