Name Park: ZOOPARK
Operator: Me, Alessandro Barbero
Location: Priero (CN), Italy
You've had your park for some time now. When did you first start it?
Alessandro Barbero: Yes Bart it's been a while now! I was very lucky to have a lot of good sponsors that helped out. But in the last 5/6 years I had to find budget. We started out in 2007 but we only finished in 2010. Now it has been 10 years this year I would love to organize an event to celebrate the DECADE
I hope this COVID-19 situation will end soon. By the way a lot of work all around I spent days and days
Name Park: The Brew House
Operator: Nick Bruce
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
What made you decide to build your own park?
Nick Bruce: It’s been a goal of mine for a really long time, but I really wanted some bigger things to ride regularly without moving, so I decided to pull the trigger.
How long did it take to find the perfect location with a roof high enough?
Name Park: Istvan Caillet’s Backyard
Operator: Istvan CAILLET
Location: Close to Toulouse (South of France)
What made you decide to build your own park?
Istvan Caillet: My brother and I started to build our home spot 11 years ago when the city close to our parents’ house decided to destroy the skatepark where we used to ride after school. It was the only skatepark around where I could go by bike (20 min). So it was the only option to continue riding bmx.
How often have you changed it?
Name Park: Ramps in the yard
Operator: Myself, Cory Coffey McGee
Location: Detroit, Michigan USA
You've had your backyard ramp set-up for some time now. When did you first get to ride it?
Cory Coffey: They were built in September of 2018… so almost two years….
How does it feel to be able to ride whenever you feel like it?
`Name Park: My Spot
Operator: Me, Senad Grosic
Location: Grossnondorf, Austria
What made you decide to build your own park?
Senad Grosic: I always had some kinda own park, because there is no really good parks or riding possibility near Vienna.
How long did it take to find the perfect location with a roof high enough?
Senad Grosic: I was pretty lucky to find a guy who is cool enough and loves bikes and his whole family is riding too, but it took a few months to find the spot.
Next step: Park design. Who helped with the design?
Name Park: Loganland
Operator: Myself, Logan Martin
Location: GoldCoast, Australia
How does it feel that in these times you have a spot to ride?
Logan Martin: I’m definitely not complaining. I’m pretty much trapped in my own paradise.
What are the Covid-19 restrictions where you live?
Logan Martin: All non essential businesses are shut down and so are skateparks. You're allowed out for an hour of exercise a day and non essential travel is prohibited. So we’re pretty much locked down at the moment. Only 2 friends can come over to ride at one time.
How big is the park?
Logan Martin: It’s 450 m2, so it’s a decent size!
What's there to ride?
Logan Martin: I have a box resi, a quarter resi which goes both ways, a spine with one side being a mellower transition and I have a 10ft quarter before the box. Stay tuned for some coming changes?
We're living in strange times. Just going out to ride isn't a normality. Although rules differ in most countries it is fair to say that having your own park is the only way of doing regular sessions without distractions. Getting a Park built is expensive and can become a headache, but if you have one now, you know it was all worth it. After checking in with Ryan Nyquist (USA) and Kenneth Tencio (CRC), we now move over to the other side of the planet where Rim Nakamura has his own park set up in Kyoto, Japan.
Name Park: Wing Park
Name of Park: 10cio park
Operator: Junior Araya
Location: Jaco, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
What made you decide to build your own park?
Kenneth Tencio: I will say it is not just one thing that made me take the decision, but in Costa Rica also in all Central America is the only wood park, and also covered and with real transitions, I just to travel for ride park and most of the time at home just to ride street, dirt or some concrete little parks around, so it really was something we need a long time ago, not only me but the whole Bmx scene here.
Name Park: Boostyard v3
Operator: Ryan Nyquist
Location: Wilmington, NC USA
What made you decide to build your own park in the backyard?
Ryan Nyquist: Once The Unit was shut down and dismantled, I knew I needed something to keep me fresh on my bike and sane. The local parks are super fun but lacked certain ramps and obstacles that I really enjoyed. So I decided to treat myself and make something I knew I would enjoy.
How does it compare to The Unit?
Ryan Nyquist: It's way smaller and simpler, but has everything I need to keep a smile on my face. Basically just big ramps that I can ride at speed and do fun tricks on.
Did you use wood from The Unit or did you have to buy everything new?
Ryan Nyquist: I bought everything new. The wood from The Unit was untreated and wouldn’t last long
We have created The Trail Collective Trail Design Tool to engage clients and community to express their ideas, desires and share designs in order to get the best from preliminary discussions, pre-design works shops and the engagement process.