Fall 2020 Hometown Messenger

News from the City of Shakopee | Fall 2020 Messenger Hometown XCEL ENERGY MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK at QUARRY LAKE PARK Shakopee, MN | July 22, 2020

CITY NEWSLETTER Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Mayor's Message

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John Oman is no stranger to two wheels. The avid cyclist bikes year round to Shakopee East Middle School were he teaches and coaches the Shakopee Mountain Bike Team. But as off-road cycling continues to grow in popularity, Oman says it's harder to find space to ride. His team of approximately 60 students must drive to Savage, Minneapolis or beyond. That's why Oman is looking forward to the new Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park coming to Shakopee to give him and his students a safer ride closer to home. "We often times will ride on the road during practice which gets very dangerous," Oman said. "I look forward to coaching our kids on this course because it will be safe and out of the way of traffic." In July, the city broke ground on the Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park, which will be constructed on land leased from Xcel Energy’s Blue Lake power plant and accessible via Quarry Lake Park. The bike park will consist of four loops, which will range in difficulty and be approximately 4 miles in length. The trails loop around Quarry Lake, giving riders the option to make the loops multiple times. Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, especially among youth. Oman noted many of metro trails are becoming overcrowded, which is a good opportunity for Shakopee. Mountain bike trek Private-public partnership brings unique recreation experience to Shakopee Proposed mountain bike trails at Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park.

Cover Photo: Shakopee Mountain Bike Team Coach Kyle Sobota helped celebrate the groundbreaking of the Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park July 22. Sobota is a city senior planner.

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