In the fall of 2023, we helped rally the local mountain biking community for a small workday at the old park. The old park needed some love and there wasn't much to it. It had an old BMX start gate, a few piles of dirt barely representing dirt jumps and a very small but rideable dirt pumptrack. That day was about more than cleaning things up and we wanted Henderson County to see that this was a place our community cared about and wanted to support.
At the time, my seven-year-old son, Ezra, wasn’t very interested in riding his bike. He came along that day mostly to dig in the dirt and take a few laps around the pump track.
What happened next changed both of our lives.
After the workday, the old park was still far from perfect, but it was noticeably more fun and rideable. Suddenly, Ezra wanted to ride his bike. We started going once or twice a week, and for the next two months, he never wanted to leave.
That small, run-down bike park gave him a place to practice without pressure. It helped him build skills, gain confidence, and eventually feel ready to ride real trails.
Fast forward nearly three years, and Ezra is now my mountain biking buddy. We have spent countless hours riding together and building memories on trails across the country—including a trip to Sedona just last month. And I am coming to terms with the fact my days are numbered before I can't keep up with him on the downhills...
That is what a public bike park can do.
A New Opportunity for Henderson County
Henderson County has approved approximately 10 acres in the northwest corner of Jackson Park for a new community bike skills park.
Our local non-profit trail club Pisgah Area SORBA is leading the project in partnership with Henderson County. The vision is to create a free, public place where riders can learn, practice, and progress at their own pace. The park could include riding opportunities for young children, beginners, families, adaptive riders, and experienced mountain bikers looking to continue progressing.
The land and opportunity are here. Now, the park needs the community behind it.
Before construction can begin, funding is needed for professional planning and design, permitting, and the actual park build. Creating a well-designed, durable bike park that can serve our community for years will require support from local riders, families, businesses, and anyone who believes in providing more outdoor recreation opportunities in Henderson County.
Cognative MTB Is Donating $5,000
Through our 2% For the Trails program, Cognative MTB is donating $5,000 to help move the Jackson Bike Park forward.
Donate to the Jackson Bike Park project:
Supporting public trails and riding opportunities has been part of Cognative MTB’s mission from the beginning. This project is especially meaningful because it is happening right here in our hometown.
Henderson County is surrounded by incredible mountain biking, but access to those trails can still feel intimidating for someone who is just getting started. A community bike skills park can help bridge that gap by giving people a welcoming place to learn, practice, and build confidence before heading into the forest with some of the steepest climbs on the East Coast.
It can give children a safe place to ride, help families spend more time outside together, and introduce someone to a sport that can become a lifelong part of their life
Help Make Jackson Bike Park a Reality
Our $5,000 donation is a starting point, but this park will only become a reality if the wider community gets involved.
You can help by:
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Donating directly to support the professional design and construction of the park
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Completing the Jackson Park Community Survey
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Sharing the project with local families, riders, businesses, and community organizations
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Encouraging local companies and community leaders to invest in the project
You do not have to be an experienced mountain biker to benefit from this park—or to support it. This is an investment in local children, families, outdoor recreation, and the future of Henderson County.
We have the land. We have a community that wants to see it happen. Now we need to come together and build it.
Let’s create a place where more stories like mine can begin.
Get Involved
Complete the Jackson Park Community Survey:
Donate to the Jackson Bike Park project:
Every contribution will help Pisgah Area SORBA move the project through professional design, planning, and ultimately construction. Whether you give $25, $100, or support the project as a local business, every donation helps move the park closer to reality.
Founder, Cognative MTB