Duluth Park & Recreational Staff Recognized for Engaging Youth Bike Program

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth youth bike program was recently recognized for their efforts of getting kids outdoors and enjoying the local parks and trails system.

Duluth Parks and Recreation was awarded the Award of Excellence by the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association. The parks and recreation staff started a youth and community bike program last year and have already serviced over 400 youths.

“I think it’s great just for kids to be out doing things and doing things together outside,” said Recreational Specialist Sam Werle. “A lot of people maybe don’t have the biking skills to utilize those trails either the awareness or the knowledge of how to use them or ride them safely. We want to try and build those skills up with our certified instructors to get our next generation of kids riding trails.”

The programs aims to get child and families outdoor to enjoy the many parks and trails available for recreational use. Duluth parks staff also provides after-school bike lessons to students interested in trying the sport.

“All the activities through our Mountain Bike grant in this program right now are free. We are really trying to take out barriers, either access to quality equipment or experienced certified instructors,” said Werle. “But also to feel more comfortable in our outdoor spaces and feel like they are able to access our parks and our trails with their friends, their family — even outside our program.”

The parks’ staff supplies youth and community members with the access to quality bikes, helmets, and recommended protective gear. Tuesday, the park’s staff teamed up with the Gary-New Duluth Boys and Girls club. One youth rider said that her family has always had a passion for wheeled-sports and wants more kids to give biking a chance.

“I like being on the bike a lot. I try everyday to ask my mom if I could bike here,” said Mabel, a youth biker. “It’s just really fun. We have this biking trail by like Ely’s Peak. We really like biking there. We can basically bike like anywhere.”

The Duluth Parks and Recreational staff has plans to continue their free youth biking programing into the fall. On August 27, they look to hold a free “Share the Shred” event in partnership with Spirit Mountain.

And even though some Duluth trails might have a jump in difficulty for new riders, our youth biker Mabel wants to remind people, “Always say this, ‘I can do this’ and never give up.”