Golf course to be turned into Leeds Urban Bike Park

Leeds is to build a Urban Bike Park, with MTB trails, BMX tracks and family-friendly cycle trails. The £1.2m scheme will be run by Cycle Pathway, a Leeds-based not-for-profit community interest company. £400,000 for the project is being invested by British Cycling with the rest provided by Leeds City Council and Sport England.

The facility will be situated in Middleton Park, five miles south of Leeds city centre. There will be a 3.5 mile MTB trail, a ‘skills zone’ which will feature a series of flow trails, a dual slalom course and jump zone, and a BMX track and a pump track.

The trails will be openly accessible to the public. Leeds Urban Bike Park will also offer a range of organised guided bike rides, coaching and training opportunities for riders of all ages and all abilities as well as hosting cross country mountain bike and BMX competitions.

The new Bike Park will be located on Middleton Park’s former golf course. British Cycling is also working with Leeds City Council and Sport England to enhance and develop the clubhouse building into a community cycling hub.

Cycle Pathway has already established a range of successful community cycling programmes at the site working in partnership with Leeds City Council.

British Cycling’s head of facility development John Mills said:

“We believe the Leeds Urban Bike Park project will lead to the development of a high quality and sustainable mountain bike venue which will be easily accessible to a large number of people. The new facility will provide opportunities for recreation, coaching and competition for all ages and abilities, who otherwise would not have the realistic chance due to the proximity and accessibility of existing MTB trail venues.”

Leader of Leeds City Council, councillor Judith Blake added:

“The proposal of an Urban Bike Park at Middleton Park is very exciting and promises to be a fantastic addition to the green space which already attracts approximately in excess of two million visitors each year. Once completed, there will be something to offer cyclists of all ages and experience, which will sit aside alongside wider refurbishment work to improve footpaths, parking and access in the park."

Construction work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.