It’s a great day when BMXers, mountain bikers, a mountain bike advocacy organization, city planners, concerned citizens, Chicago politicians and a landscaping supply company all come together to build Chicago’s first ever bike park. The Garden is a bicycle playground for children of all ages, featuring a set of dirt jumps, 3 jump lines and a pump track with multiple routes. It’s free, open to the public, has terrain for all ages and skill levels and it’s right in Chicago.

Sitting atop land that had been undeveloped for many years, a wooded area once thought of as a hotbed of gang activity and other illegal activities, The Garden is a community project built by Chicagoland BMX/Mountain Bikers, and the Chicago Park District.

July 31st will be an even greater day when the West Chapter of the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (CAMBr), and all the other aforementioned people and groups, come together for  “Settin’ Down Roots: The Garden Dirt Jam” to celebrate this great park and all the work that went into it.

Settin’ Down Roots: The Garden Dirt Jam is a celebration of everybody’s, from-the-ground-up, hard work and the park’s recent legal status.  The event, starting at noon on July 31st, will include a race, a huge raffle, local vendors, music, the best riders in Chicago (possible appearance of a pro or two), and other events for the entire family.

Check the Garden Dirt Jam web site to sign up and get more info. Online registration closes on July 19th, but you can register on the day of the event if you can’t find your computer by Monday.