Join the Effort to Build a Mountain Bike Trail in South Lakes Park

November 24, 2024

Volunteers building a berm during a trail work day in December 2023.

Since spring of 2023, a small group of volunteers have inched forward in construction of a new mountain bike trail in South Lakes Park. The group has cut a little over one mile of trail. However, the primary organizer, Caleb Wills, says more volunteers are needed to complete the project and open it to riders.

Volunteers pose along the trail during a work day in 2023.

The group hopes the final trail will be roughly four miles long and welcoming to riders of all skill levels. The trail will feature loops that begin and end on an existing gravel path. To avoid risk of collisions between people biking and walking, loops will begin and end at the gravel path but will never cross it.

The group is in the beginning stages of a second trail loop.

According to Wills, a key benefit of the trail is accessibility from surrounding neighborhoods. Its proximity to homes will allow more residents to access the trail by bicycle instead of having to drive to a regional trail like the Jeff LaQuey Memorial Trail in far northeast Denton.

“It’s about accessibility,” said Wills. “It’s our way to contribute to the Parks Department’s goal to add more trails.” 

According to Denton’s 2022 Parks, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan, Denton residents requested trails more than any other feature during development of the plan.

Residents overwhelmingly named trails as their top priority for the 2022 Denton Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan. (Image source: 2022 Denton Park, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan)

Wills is coordinating with the City of Denton Parks & Recreation Department on this project. However, the project has no dedicated funding. Progress depends on the time of volunteers. More volunteers mean a faster construction timeline.

Project organizers periodically post trail work days on its Facebook group, South Lakes Park Trail. Wills says he aims to organize a trail work day a minimum of once per month during cooler months when heat, biting pests, and visibility are less of a concern.

For people who cannot physically contribute to construction of the trail, monetary donations help fund purchase of tools and equipment to speed the process of construction. To donate, visit the GoFundMe for the South Lakes Park Trail Project.