Pickens Residents Get Flow Coaster Preview

Those who came out to Fox Carolina's “Celebrate the Carolinas” filming Thursday morning got a sneak peak at a unique feature that will built at Pickens' bike park this fall.

Officials with Ride Garden built a mini-version of the flow coaster that will be built at Town Creek Park. View the above video to see the coaster.

“It's going to put Pickens on the map,” said City Administrator Katherine Hendricks. “It's going to be an off-road bike park.”

Ride Garden is helping the city put together its Master Plan for the Town Creek Bike Park.

“It's going to be a one-of-a-kind bike park,” said Matt McClain with Ride Garden.

McClain said construction should begin on Phase II of the bike park in the fall.

“Phase II will include a 3,700 foot pump coaster,” he said. “We're installing a massive entry plaza with different ride features, a big stage on top of one of the mountains so we can host award ceremonies and also have little concerts and stuff. It'll be a good amenity with the seating out in the ball field there.”

The park will also include a pump track near the back of the park.

“It's a series of rollers and jumps that you can kind of pump your way through on the bike, so you're using the kinetic energy of your body and the bike to move and navigate through the track,” McClain said. “So it's less pedaling, more actually pumping the bike. It's a really great, fun skills area.”

The park will host events, he said.

“We'll have flow coaster race,” McClain said. “Riders can get timed doing laps on the flow coaster and it'll be judged on fastest time, maybe best tricks, that kind of stuff.”

A series of three mountain will be installed at the park.

“One will be a kids' zone mountain,” McClain said. “It will have spectation on top for parents so they can watch their kids ride all the way around this mini-mountain. It's going to pretty cool. One of the goals of the park is to make it completely family-friendly.”

A ledges feature will be created.

“Where you can kind of pick your way down a series of ledge-drop scenarios with fast lines, easier lines,” McClain said. “The goal with the park is to accommodate all skill levels. Biking is such a great initiative. It's great for wellness, it's great for getting families together in the outdoors. What better environment than a little town like Pickens with awesome topography and beautiful mountains all around to enjoy that outdoor lifestyle?”

Future phases will include a disc golf course and a place to host parties.

“The big thing kind of linking the park together with the Playground of Promise is a 3,600 foot greenway,” McClain said. “It'll be an ADA-compliant greenway. So you'll be able to walk from the Playground of Promise all the way to the rec center. The bike amenities will kind of follow that path so it will be great for spectation as well.”

The park and its existing amenities are considered Phase I, he said.

“We are finalizing all the bid docs right now and those will go out to bid probably around Labor Day,” McClain said. “Toward the end of September we'll be looking at getting everything organized with construction beginning probably around the first of October.”

Future phases will begin as funding becomes available.

“We're continuing to apply for different grants … to fund future phases,” McClain said. “The master plan calls for five phases.”