OUR PROJECTS
Skate Park Master Plan, Travelers Rest, SC, 2023 - 2024
Our team developed a concept for a urban skate park, snake run, and paved pump track and approached the city to gauage interest in the concept. Support for the plan gained traction and we recently advanced a preliminary skate park master plan for the city.
We are proud to have partnered with American Ramp Company, Earth Design, and Creative Builders for the exciting project which is also planned to include the first paved Velo Solutions pump track in the Greenville metropolitan area.
Sliding Rock II Hike / Bike Trail, Greenville, SC,
2023 - 2024
The City of Greenville continues working to expand trails within the city park system with a new trail in the Nicholtown Community in 2024 near downtown Greenville. Now completed, the approximate 5,500’ trail system located adjacent to the Sliding Rock I mountain bike trail connects to the Sliding Rock Trail Connector and provides additional recreational opportunities.
Ride Garden was retained by Sexton Design and Development for design coordination, cost estimating, and construction phase services. The trail crosses multiple undeveloped parcels within a 11 acre wooded setting and connects the Heritage Community apartments to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and Cleveland Park trail system.
Funding for the new trail project was provided by city funds and a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant administered by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT).
The Bike Yard, Spartanburg, SC, 2015 - 2020
The Partners for Active Living (PAL) and the Coalition for Active Youth (CAY) took a leadership role in partnering with the City of Spartanburg for fundraising and development of this municipal bike park project. The groups considered multiple sites ultimately settling on a smaller 1.5 acre piece of dirt within the Rail Yard, a large urban park alongside the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail for creation of the bike park to be called The Bike Yard.
Ride Garden was retained to prepare a new trail master plan and budget for the project and fundraising commenced. Numerous meetings with local trail users and community members were held to discuss which elements and riding features were desired in the final trail master plan. This allowed our team to hone in on specific design features and establishing the final project budget. Ride Garden also helped PAL write a Duke Energy grant and was awarded the funds for creation of a rideable bio-swale feature. Following completion of other nearby Rail Yard improvements and environmental cleanup activities PAL secured all of the necessary funding for project implementation.
Ride Garden started construction in 2019 and worked with PAL and the City of Spartanburg to get the facility completed and insured through the SCMIRF.
Ride Garden completed construction of the $200,000+ bike park in 2020 and assisted PAL with a contract for park maintenance.
Conceptual Bike Park Design
for Benchmark Trails, Inc, 2014
Local biking advocates engaged Benchmark Trails, Inc. to help generate a conceptual design layout and site rendering to assist in building community support and fund raising. Benchmark Trails called us in to help develop the concept and create a park map and preliminary budget for his client. The site was unique and had its share of challenges but in the end the client was happy and equipped with an inspired park concept that can be shared with the community and potential funding partners.
Lake Conestee Nature Park
Boardwalk Construction, 2015
Continuing the growing relationship with Benchmark Trails, Inc., Ride Garden personnel were retained to assist with construction of 1,200’ of 6’ wide wooden boardwalk through the Lake Conestee Nature Park property. Construction of the boardwalk was through a swamp and utilized the use of helical screw pile anchors for proper foundation support of overlying wooden decking.
2001-2005, 2015: Stone Hollow Private Estate
Columbus, NC
Located high up on White Oak Mountain, Stone Hollow Estate boasts 1.2 miles of multi-use trails and scenic overlooks, elevated viewing platforms, and an outdoor amphitheater. The location is a perfect place for hosting events and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountain. Stylistic rock armoring and edging give this trail system an artistic and sustainable surface that is both beautiful and functional.
Town Creek Park Improvements
Phases 2 & 3, Pickens, SC, 2013 - 2015
Ride Garden was engaged by the City of Pickens and Darrohn Engineering to provide several services for bike park development. Feature design and consulting, general contractor / PTBA contractor / City liaison, materials sourcing, limited construction, web page development, park signage and branding.
A dedicated team of consultants and contractors helped the City construct the second municipally owned bike park in South Carolina. With concept and feature development provided by Ride Garden, J. Davis Construction partnered with Elevated Trail Design (PTBA trail contractor for project) and Dreammakers Construction to field-fit the design and construct the project. Ride Garden remained involved at the request of the City to insure adherence and implementation of the vision of TCP as identified in the trail master plan. Elevated Trail Design used their experience to build a short run of single track paralleling the Appalachian Lumber Greenway and beautiful earthen features for a small pump track and bowl and the FlowCoaster™, a one of a kind roller coaster feature of 4,500’ length for mountain bikers of all skill levels. Our team worked closely together to optimize the location of a small assortment of features within the moderate rolling topography of the site.
