Bike Skills Features at Syringa and Bellevue Parks
Syringa Park TJO Fly Zone
Committed to quality and safety for a 2024 opening
Phase two of TJO Flyzone, the bike park at Syringa Park Bike Park, is well on its way to completion. We want to highlight our unwavering commitment to safety and your overall experience.
Here's what's left to do before opening to provide a quality rider experience:
- We're bringing in an independent third-party inspector to ensure the course meets industry standards and supports rider safety.
- Independent bike park inspectors have limited availability, causing a minor delay. We now expect the inspection and final park preparations to be completed in late spring 2024, weather permitting.
- If the course inspection identifies required safety modifications, we’ll work closely with our project partner, MTB Missoula, to make the necessary modifications.
- The timeline for completing these changes may range from a few days for minor tweaks to a few weeks for more extensive improvements.
- It's important to note the inspection and other remaining work can only happen after winter snow melts, and the course conditions are dry enough for proper testing and assessment.
- Weather is a major factor impacting the project timeline.
- We're gearing up to install rider education and safety signs to help you make the most of your time in the park.
- We will reconstruct the perimeter skills loop with new and improved features.
- We will restore vegetation and make erosion control improvements to preserve the area's natural beauty.
We will announce the official opening date after completing the course inspection in Spring 2024. Your safety and the quality of your rider experience remain our top priorities. We look forward to welcoming you to the new and improved TJO Fly Zone at Syringa Park!
Syringa Park is located at 1465 Lower Lincoln Hills Dr. Visit our website at www.missoulaparks.org for updates. Questions or comments? Please email us at parksrec@ci.missoula.mt.us or give us a call at 406-721-PARK.
Syringa and Bellevue Bike Skills Phase 1 Parks Open
Phase 1 construction at Syringa and Bellevue bike parks is complete. Both parks feature a beginner’s pump track, which is a continuous loop of hills and berms which allows cyclists to perfect their riding skills.
Citizen advocacy groups, including Missoula Bike Parks, Friends of Missoula Parks and the We Ride for Tanner Foundation continue to raise funds for the expanded bike skills features for both parks.
Riders are asked to be respectful of adjacent homeowners at both parks. No trespassing, littering, excessive noise or harassment of people or pets. Thanks for your cooperation.
- Syringa Bike Skills Park, 1465 Lower Lincoln Hills Drive
- Bellevue Bike Skills Park, Paxson and 39th
Park Rules
- Park closes at dusk or 10 p.m., whichever is earlier.
- Bike skills park open to bicycles only.
- No electric and motorized vehicles, except OPDMDs as allowed by the ADA.
- Dogs must be leashed; owners must pick up pet waste. No animals within bike course.
- No alcohol, tobacco (including vaping and e-cigarettes) or unlawful drugs.
- No littering.
- No glass or ceramic containers.
- Park may be closed for safety concerns, maintenance, weather, or Parks and Recreation programs.
Safety First
- Bike course is unsupervised, know and ride within your ability.
- Riders under age 18 must wear a properly fastened bicycle helmet. Helmets are strongly recommended for all users.
- Bike with the flow of traffic.
- Do not alter the course or add features or other obstacles.
- Do not ride on park features, turf, or trails when they are wet, icy, or slippery.
- IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL 911.
- Report safety hazards, incidents or requests to Parks and Recreation at 721-PARK (7275) or parksrec@ci.missoula.mt.us.
- Report animal issues to Missoula Animal Control: 541-7387
Parks and Recreation will send periodic project updates via email from the "Notify Me" module on the City of Missoula website. Sign up here: Upper Rattlesnake or Southgate Triangle. Please email Parks and Recreation if you need assistance registering for the email updates. Updates will also be posted at right.
For more information about either project, please see the links at right, email Parks and Trails Design/Development Manager Neil Miner, or give us a call at 721-PARK (7275.)
Citizen advocacy groups, including Missoula Bike Parks, Friends of Missoula Parks and the We Ride for Tanner Foundation continue to raise funds for the bike skills components of Syringa and Bellevue parks. To date, nearly $100,000 has been privately raised or pledged for the project.
Syringa Park Master Plan
Syringa Park, an undeveloped County park in the upper Rattlesnake, may soon be home to a "pump track", a few "jump lines" and even some "slopestyle" features, according to the new master park plan (PDF) adopted by the Missoula Parks and Recreation Board in October, 2016. The park has been designed as a bike park, which includes topographical and man-made elements specifically designed for off-road or mountain biking. Syringa Park is located at 1465 Lower Lincoln Hills Dr.
The master plan was developed with neighborhood residents and the cycling community through an extensive public process and approved by the Park Board. Parks planning staff also consulted with the International Mountain Biking Association's Trail Solutions Program to help design the park's bike skills elements. The plan includes features for beginning to advanced cyclists of all ages, a shade shelter with picnic tables and walking paths.
Other park highlights include:
- A progressive bike skills layout which allows riders to progress through the park, with easy-to-access beginner features moving outward toward more challenging features.
- A beginner's pump track, a continuous loop of hills and berms which allows cyclists to perfect their riding skills.
- A progressive jump zone for mountain bike and BMX riders of all skill levels.
- Intermediate and advanced jump lines to provide non-linear, varied options and routes for riders.
- A bicycle work station with basic bike repair tools available for public use.
- A perimeter walking path, landscaping and water fountain. Several restroom options are addressed in the plan.
The master park plan provides a basis for possible funding allocations from various sources, including City impact fees, federal Land and Water Conservation Funds, state Recreation Trails Program and the City's Capital Improvement Program.
Park construction is projected to cost between $322,000 to $385,000, depending on selected design options. Parks and Recreation will continue to pursue funding for the project. The budget is outlined in the Master Park Plan and Narrative below.
Missoula Parks and Recreation uses a master planning process throughout the park system. Park master plans define a long-term, sustainable vision for parks by helping to identify best uses for a specific site, make the most of limited resources and protect the environment.
Master Park Plan and Narrative (PDF)
International Mountain Biking Association Concept Report (PDF)
Tanner Olson Memorial BMX Park on Facebook
International Mountain Biking Association
Bike Skills Park Planned At Bellevue Park
Parks and Recreation, along with Missoula County Parks, Trails and Open Lands, began a public process in November, 2015 to design mountain bike skills courses in Syringa and Bellevue parks. As noted above, a Master Park Plan for Syringa Park was adopted in October, 2015.
Parks planners have designed a draft bike skills park plan for Bellevue Park, located at 3925 Paxson Street Friends of Missoula Parks and the We Ride for Tanner Foundation continue to raise funds for the bike skills components of Syringa and Bellevue parks. The Bellevue master park plan will be implemented as funding becomes available.
Bellevue Bike Park Site Plan (PDF)
Syringa-Bellevue Open House Presentation (PDF), March, 2016