Wollongong Council opens its first Mountain Bike park

Wollongong Council’s first Mountain Bike park has opened with Cringila Hills Recreation Park offering riders new purpose-built trails, with almost 12 kms of trails to explore. It is a perfect place for families or those new to the sport of mountain bike riding, with trails catering for beginner to intermediate riders. Within the large site there is also more than 2.5 kms of renovated walking trails for the broader community to enjoy.

Improvements to the car park, on-site wayfinding signage, and extensive landscaping for the site have also been completed. The recreation park will also include the addition of a mountain bike skills playground and an asphalt pump track with works beginning later this year.

Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle notes “this is a really exciting day for Wollongong and for bike riders everywhere who love the challenge of riding a dirt trail.

“I have no doubt these trails will become a premiere attraction for the city, and the delivery of these trails continue on our commitment to offer improved and diverse biking infrastructure across the city. This opening also illustrates that Wollongong is worthy of its UCI Bike City status.’

“We have strong mountain biking community and we’re pleased to be able to provide a wonderful set of formal trails for riders to enjoy and develop their skills on. We encourage everyone using the trails to wear the appropriate safety equipment. There is some element of risk, as with any sport, so remember to ride within the limits of your abilities and familiarise yourself with the trails before heading out,” he said.

“Our goal for this space was to provide an attractive multipurpose facility, with a new playground and parking along with the mountain biking focus. The park has become an active space that families can easily enjoy, whether that be on the playground, walking and mountain bike trails, or on the skills course and pump track that will be finished in the new year.

“Wollongong is a Bike City and it’s an exciting place to be a lover of pedal power. These trails are just one of a variety of riding projects that includes pop-up cycling lanes and the construction of a new criterium track that have been taking place across our community as we proudly stamp ourselves as a Bike City before the eyes of the world in preparation for the UCI World Championships in September next year.”

While it is exciting that the trails are now open, Council is encouraging the community to take a sensible approach to exploring the park.

“We know the community are looking forward to getting on the course, however we remind everyone to stay COVID safe,” Doyle said.

“Make sure you check-in before riding or using the playground, don’t gather in groups, stay socially distant, and if the park is busy, we ask you to make other plans. There is plenty of time to ride across spring and the upcoming summer, and while this is exciting, there is no need to rush out to use this facility. It’s here to stay for our whole community to enjoy.’’ In addition to the walking and riding trails, a new playground opened in the park in September which has a strong focus on nature play, along with park amenity upgrades that will include tree planting, picnic settings and water refill stations.

New South Wales Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells commented “the $1.2 million funding provided by the Federal Government to complete this worthy project, will be thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated by the residents of Wollongong City and the Illawarra region.”

The Cringila Hills Recreation Park is a free council facility open to the public seven days a week.

The Cringila Hills bike trails have been funded by the Commonwealth Government under the Local Roads & Community Infrastructure Program in association with Wollongong City Council. The Cringila Hills playground has been funded by the NSW Government under the Everyone Can Play Program in association with Wollongong City Council.

Image courtesy Wollongong City Council