The Galena Growlers, a middle and high school composite mountain bike team in Norwich, practices on a local trail. The team, along with recreational riders throughout the community, would benefit from a biking skills course that could be added to Weiler Park on the city's north end, if grant funds are awarded. (Photo taken from the Galena Growlers Facebook page)

NORWICH – With hopes of capitalizing on a growing interest in trail biking, the Chenango County Department of Planning, in conjunction with the City of Norwich, is seeking various funding streams to bring a one-of-a-kind biking skills course to the city’s north end.

According to Chenango County Planner Matt Gladstone, Weiler Park could be home to one of the few nearby recreational biking skills courses in the area, offering obstacles for riders of all levels to hone their skills in a safe environment. It would include a pump track and other obstacles, incorporate the city’s skate park and provide a trailhead for the Greenway North Trails to make it a unique location for recreationists.

The department is currently working with the Norwich Planning and Community Development Office to apply for grants through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to make the park happen, Gladstone said. If awarded, the allotment would fund roughly half the project costs. The county and city planning department would then solicit donations from local foundations and seek other grant opportunities to cover the remaining costs, he said.

“This is a growing hobby,” Gladstone said, noting local interest in existing biking trails in the Norwich area. “People know that Norwich has got these trails now, and it’s attracting more and more people.”

Gladstone said while the local courses are attracting more riders, there’s a real benefit in having one location to safely practice a gamut of skills without bouncing to different locations on the trails.

Gladstone is also working closely with the Galena Growlers, a local composite middle and high school mountain bike team that would benefit from having a home base and ideal location for controlled practices.

The Growlers are the host team of an annual mountain bike race, which draws hundreds of riders to the Norwich area each summer. With this year’s race slated for Aug. 20, Gladstone said the county planning department wants to make it a more inclusive experience and even cross-promote the event with the annual Chenango Blues Festival that kicks off the same weekend.

“We want to make it a lot bigger this year,” he said. “We’re trying to make it more of an event that’s well known – not just for bikers, but for the community.”

In the meantime, the City of Norwich has rezoned a parcel of Weiler Park in anticipation of grant funding and ultimately being able to designate a new city park, Gladstone said.