Development of Sunnyside Bike Park started in 2012 following conversation in 2011 with the City and Victor Ford & Associates landscape architecture firm who reached out to Jay for services. Jay worked in collaboration with the Toronto Off-Road Bicycle Association (TORBA) and the local City Councillor to host public meetings and consultation with members, the community and interested parties on design.

 

Check out Bike Park clip from inception to completion and Jay cruising the features!

 

The site, located between busy roadways and railway lines, was initially slotted for parking. However, with increasing concern towards unauthorized dirt jumps being built nearby, creation of a legal urban Bike Park with direct community input was conceived.

 

Construction took place over two years working with TORBA and Victor Ford & Associates in coordination with the City and Forestry Department with the Bike Park Grand Opening in fall 2014 and integrating a broad and diverse range of components including 3 pump tracks, start deck with drops, jump lines, wall ride and elaborate wood and rock skills complex.

 

Salvaged trees from the 2013 ice storm provided wood for the skills features, while blend of clay-based dirt was brought in from a downtown development. The facility is further supported by park amenities, alongside naturalized areas and greenspace providing shade and attractive buffering from adjacent traffic.

 

(photos by M. Forsythe, M. Landry, Victor Ford & Associates, ontariobiketrails.com & Hoots)