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Helping hand

Phase 2 of Trails at Jakes Rocks project receives $10,000 boost from national biking organization

The Trails at Jakes Rocks has been awarded grant dollars from a national bicycling infrastructure organization.

Warren County is among a list of areas with trails, including Helena, Mont.; New York, New York; Peninsula, Ohio; Arlington, Mass.; Mobile, Ala.; Georgetown, Conn.; and San Elizario, Texas; which will receive community grants from PeopleForBikes.

The group has board members representing Trek, Shimano, Giant, Interbike, Specialized, Huffy, and other industry leaders.

The board approved $63,500 in grants in late June. TaJR will receive $10,000 for Phase 2 construction.

“PeopleForBikes’ grant will supplement local, regional and US Forest Service funding to add 10 miles of mountain bike trail to an existing network,” according to the PFB release.

“The PFB grant will be used in the Phase 2 trail construction efforts which are slated to commence mid-August,” Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry (WCCBI) President and CEO Jim Decker said. “Roughly five miles of trail will be completed in 2017 with an additional four completed as Phase 2B in early 2018.”

“The PFB funds were combined with local donations made by Community Foundation of Warren County, Whirley DrinkWorks, United Refining, Crescent Beer, DeFrees Family Foundation, Betts Foundation, Northwest Charitable Trust, Targeted Pet Treats and the US Forest Service along with grant funding obtained by Warren County Development Association through the Appalachian Regional Commission to cover the Phase 2 construction cost of $428,000,” Decker said.

“PFB is a great organization to continue to partner with, as well as the community organizations that have been with us from the start,” Andy Georgakis, president of the Northern Allegheny Mountain Bike Association and shop manager of Warren Cycle Shop, who uses the Trails at Jakes Rocks up to three times per week, said. “To get $10,000 of $63,500 is an achievement.”

The new construction will add difficulty.

“We’ve got a lot of the beginning and intermediate trails in place,” Georgakis said. “Phase 2 will implement a lot of the intermediate to advanced trails.”

“The Phase 2 trails will provide a more intense and challenging ride opportunity than the 10 miles of trail developed during Phase 1, carrying riders down into Devils Elbow and Dewdrop as well as providing direct connection to the Kinzua Point Information Center,” Decker said. “The extension of available trail and degree of difficulty provided will have significant positive impact on the attractiveness of the trail system to a broader rider audience from a larger geographic area.”

Phase 3 — another nine miles — is also on the agenda for 2018.

“We are currently working on finalizing funding necessary to complete Phase 3 in 2018 as well,” Decker said. “Local funds are in place with remaining funding dependent upon a grant authorization. Our confidence level is high that these grant funds will be forthcoming to support trail completion in 2018.”

The number of miles and the varied levels of challenge available make the Trails at Jakes Rocks a tourist attraction. “People will travel for an epic mountain bike trail system that they can ride multiple days,” Georgakis said.

The Raystown Lake trail system in Huntingdon is the point of comparison for the Trails at Jakes Rocks. But the local trail “really stands alone,” Georgakis said. “When the trail building experts and pros came into our area, they commented on how the rock terrain and stunning views stood out from other machine-built trails.”

The latest statistics available indicate that there were 2,000 visitors per month using the parking lot at the trailhead. “2,000 visitors a month is quite significant,” he said. “Some trails may only 100 per month. I think it will be increased once we get the additional 10 miles in.”

“Your more avid riders are going to come, number one, for the mileage,” he said. “They are going to stay multiple days to enjoy all the trails in the area. That translates to tourism dollars in the area.”

The impact at local businesses is not just from tourists.

“It’s definitely impacted our business,” Georgakis said. “It’s brought more riders into the mountain biking community because of the trails’ ability to accommodate all levels of riders, including the youth.”

“Once more mileage is in place, it’s going to bring out more riders locally and enhance their skill level,” he said. “That usually translates to people buying more advanced equipment to enhance their pursuit of two-wheeled therapy.”

While the financial support is a big deal to the construction, the source may be even bigger.

PeopleForBikes is a significant group. “This is a huge recognition from the national level. I’ve been familiar with PFB for many years,” Georgakis said. “They were created to help establish a voice for mountain bike trails and bicycle infrastructure in cities. I think it will help us in expose for the next phase.”

“I truly believe that gaining the support of a group like PeopleForBikes speaks volumes regarding the potential this project has relative to serving as a magnet for tourism sector growth,” Decker said. “In addition to the impact the dollars have on the project, gaining the notoriety of being a project endorsed and supported by such an organization significantly enhances the level of awareness of our project internationally.”

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