No Mountains, But the Trails Are Real

By Shane Miller
NY Queens Ledger
May 31, 2007

Sure, Queens can't boast of being home to a single mountain, but the doesn't mean that bikers seeking the thrills of pedaling over rough terrain don't have a place to get their kicks.

On Saturday, the Cunningham Park North Woods Mountain Bike Trail opened to riders. Beginning at the intersection of 67th Avenue and Oceania Street, miles of trails make use of the natural terrain, and feature steep hills and hairpin curves to match the manmade loops.

The layout consists of one large beginner's loop with smaller trails of varying difficulty - from moderate to expert - veering off and then reconnecting with the main trail. On Saturday, about 50 riders tried out the new trails, with guided tours given by Michael Vitti, vice president of Concerned Long Island Mountain Bikers (C.L.I.M.B.). Bikes and helmets were provided by Peak Mountain Bike Pro Shop of Little Neck and Arc de Triumph Bikes of Richmond Hill.

The trails were built almost entirely by volunteers from the Green Apple Corps, C.L.I.M.B., and the Boy Scouts of America. The Parks Department's Natural Resource Group also contributed to the 2,500 hours and two years of work that went into the project.

"This was a long process," said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. "I have to admit that when Michael [Vitti] first came to me, I was skeptical."

It wasn't only mountain bikers who were happy about the trails being opened. Marc Haken of Friends of Cunningham Park said his group was happy to see the North Woods being used for a much more environmentally friendly pastime.

"This part of the park for so long was used and abused by ATV riders," he told the crowd Saturday. "It was an environmental disaster."

This is the second mountain bike trail in New York City. The week before the Cunningham Park trail opened, the Parks Department cut the ribbon on a mountain bike trail in Manhattan's Highbridge Park, which in addition to cross-country trails, also features a BMX-style dirt jump and a "free ride" trail.

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	No Mountains, But the Trails Are Real By Shane Miller NY Queens Ledger May 31, 2007 Sure, Queens can't boast of being home to a single mountain, but the doesn't mean that bikers seeking the thrills of pedaling over rough terrain don't have a place to get their kicks. On Saturday, the Cunningham Park North Woods Mountain Bike Trail opened to riders. Beginning at the intersection of 67th Avenue and Oceania Street, miles of trails make use of the natural terrain, and feature steep hills and hairpin curves to match the manmade loops. The layout consists of one large beginner's loop with smaller trails of varying difficulty - from moderate to expert - veering off and then reconnecting with the main trail. On Saturday, about 50 riders tried out the new trails, with guided tours given by Michael Vitti, vice president of Concerned Long Island Mountain Bikers (C.L.I.M.B.). Bikes and helmets were provided by Peak Mountain Bike Pro Shop of Little Neck and Arc de Triumph Bikes of Richmond Hill. The trails were built almost entirely by volunteers from the Green Apple Corps, C.L.I.M.B., and the Boy Scouts of America. The Parks Department's Natural Resource Group also contributed to the 2,500 hours and two years of work that went into the project. "This was a long process," said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. "I have to admit that when Michael [Vitti] first came to me, I was skeptical." It wasn't only mountain bikers who were happy about the trails being opened. Marc Haken of Friends of Cunningham Park said his group was happy to see the North Woods being used for a much more environmentally friendly pastime. "This part of the park for so long was used and abused by ATV riders," he told the crowd Saturday. "It was an environmental disaster." This is the second mountain bike trail in New York City. The week before the Cunningham Park trail opened, the Parks Department cut the ribbon on a mountain bike trail in Manhattan's Highbridge Park, which in addition to cross-country trails, also features a BMX-style dirt jump and a "free ride" trail.


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