High School Trail Proposal - Caleb Melamed.pdf (4,324 KB)

Nederland Middle/High School Mountain Bike Trail Proposal Submitted by: A coalition of Nederland parents, volunteer coaches, community partners and Greater Nederland Area Riders (GNAR)​ Lead Contacts: Arthur Nelson; Rex Madden; Jesse Seavers Date: September 2025​ To: Rob Price, Superintendent, Boulder Valley School District (BVSD); Caleb Melamed, Principal, Nederland Middle/Senior High School (NMSHS); Sean DePaula Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, Nederland Middle/Senior High School​

Executive Summary Nederland Middle/Senior High School has a unique opportunity to enhance outdoor education, student wellness, and athletics by approving the construction of an approximately 0.9‑mile natural‑surface mountain bike trail on school property. This project is community‑led, volunteer‑powered, and not requesting district funding. Local parents (many of whom are experienced riders, coaches, and professionals in excavation and tree care) will build and maintain the trail to IMBA sustainable design standards. The corridor will also provide strategic forest thinning for wildfire risk reduction. Primary request: BVSD permission to construct the trail in Summer 2026.​ Funding: Grants, community fundraising, and in‑kind donations (detailed below).​ Confirmed in‑kind commitments:​ • $25,000 – High Performance Earthworks: super‑mini excavator hours, machine use, and fuel.​ • $10,000 – Infinite Wood: tree removal equipment and support as needed.​ • $20,000 – Hero DirtWorks: volunteer coordination, skilled labor, and trail‑building expertise.​ Total project value (current commitments): $55,000. Why this matters: The trail expands daily PE use, supports the growing NMSHS mountain bike team, offers inclusive recreation for all students, and strengthens Nederland’s positioning as a district‑wide high‑altitude training hub—a positive counterpoint to enrollment declines. Compared with traditional sports fields, the trail delivers multi‑program value at a fraction of the capital and lifecycle cost.

A Vision for Nederland’s Next Generation of Mountain Bikers

Imagine a crisp summer morning in Nederland. A group of middle and high school students—smiling, chatting, and sporting the Nederland MTB team jerseys—gather at a trailhead they helped build. Their parents, passionate riders and volunteer coaches, stand by to lead a skills clinic. The once‑overgrown hillside is now a sustainable, thoughtfully designed corridor that doubles as a fuel‑break. Students learn trail design, forestry stewardship, and leadership—leaving a legacy future classes will ride for years. As enrollment ebbs district‑wide, Nederland’s outdoor programs shine: a reason families choose to stay, and others choose to come.

Project Vision & Benefits ●​ Multi‑use, all day: Daily PE classes, after‑school practices, cross‑training for cross country and other sports, and general student recreation.​ ●​ Growing scholastic demand: The NMSHS MTB team and club participation continues to climb; an on‑campus loop provides safe, consistent training.​ ●​ District equity through access: Any BVSD student may attend NMSHS; this facility serves the entire district, just as Nederland students access specialized programs down the hill.​ ●​ Wildfire mitigation: Corridor creation includes targeted thinning and ladder‑fuel reduction around campus edges in coordination with local fire guidance.​ ●​ Education & careers: Student trail crews support STEM, environmental science, forestry, and outdoor leadership—a pipeline to the growing trail‑building industry.​

Scope & Standards ●​ Length: ~0.9 miles (final alignment subject to on‑site flagging/workshopping).​ ●​ Design: Sustainable, all‑weather natural‑surface singletrack per IMBA guidelines (grade reversals, outslope, drainage).​ ●​ Features: Optional berms/rollers and skill‑progression elements placed to manage speed and broaden accessibility.​

●​ Operations: Clearly posted rules; daytime school priority; community access outside school hours per school policy.​ ●​ Maintenance: Led by MTB team and volunteers via scheduled workdays; annual shoulder‑season tune‑ups.​

Budget & In‑Kind Commitments ●​ Confirmed in‑kind (current project value):​ 1.​ $25,000 – High Performance Earthworks: super‑mini excavator hours, machine use, and fuel.​ 2.​ $10,000 – Infinite Wood: tree removal equipment and support as needed.​ 3.​ $20,000 – Hero DirtWorks: volunteer coordination, skilled labor, and trail‑building expertise.​ Total project value (current commitments): $55,000.​

Reference cost context: Published planning guidance places natural‑surface singletrack construction at $50,000–$100,000 per mile (≈ $9.50–$18.90/lf), and our campus loop is ~0.9 mi (~4,752 lf). Our in‑kind commitments represent a substantial portion of typical construction value and lower the required cash outlay. (See Appendix A.)

Grants & Fundraising Plan Funding posture: This project is fully viable with the $55,000 in-kind commitments already pledged; no additional funding is required for a successful baseline build. Fundraising and grants remain optional and will be directed to value-adds (enhanced features, signage/wayfinding, and professional outside consultation for extra polish). Match Strategy: Leverage the $55,000 in-kind commitments (HPE, Infinite Wood, Hero DirtWorks) and modest community cash to satisfy program match rules (ensuring any required cash minimums are met), minimizing district outlay while maximizing project scope. ●​ Community Fundraising: PTA and local nonprofit partners; tax‑deductible pathways where applicable.​

●​ Target Grants & Programs:​ ○​ CPW State Trails – Non‑Motorized (up to ~$250k; 25% match, ≥10% cash).​ ○​ GOCO Community Impact / Pathways (larger competitive awards).​ ○​ CSFS Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) for corridor thinning/fuel reduction adjacent to school infrastructure.​ ○​ IMBA Trail Accelerator Grant (TAG) for planning/design; PeopleForBikes, Outride (youth/skills/equipment), REI Cooperative Action Fund (stewardship/programming).​ ○​ Youth Corps (Boulder County / CYCA) for seasonal labor support.​

Risk, Liability & Stewardship ●​ Liability: Trail treated like other school athletic/recreation facilities under existing coverage; risk managed through best‑practice design, signage, and supervision during school use.​ ●​ Environmental care: IMBA‑standard construction minimizes erosion; alignment avoids sensitive areas; corridor thinning follows local fire guidance; revegetation where appropriate.​ ●​ Noise/traffic: On‑campus use reduces student travel for practices; no lighting; events coordinated through school.​

Timeline ●​ Spring 2026: Final alignment walk‑through, approvals, grant submissions, fundraising, volunteer scheduling.​ ●​ Summer 2026: Construction phase (machine rough‑in, hand‑finish, corridor thinning, signage).​

●​ Fall 2026: Opening, PE integration, volunteer maintenance calendar launched.​

Request for Approval We respectfully request BVSD permission to construct the NMSHS mountain bike trail in Summer 2026. While no district funding is requested, we welcome any support or partnership the district may wish to offer (e.g., coordination, materials storage, communications). We’d love to discuss these ideas further and adapt any details to best serve Nederland Middle/High School and the broader BVSD community. We welcome the opportunity to meet with district leadership, share our detailed construction plans, and outline how this trail can be a beacon for outdoor learning and family engagement in the region. Together, we can empower our students to build the future—one switchback at a time.

Arthur Nelsen - Middle School Mountain Bike Coach Rex Madden - MTB Community Organizer Jesse Seavers - Middle School Mountain Bike Team Volunteer

Appendix A — Cost Comparison & References Trail Construction (natural‑surface singletrack)​ • IMBA Trail Solutions planning docs: $50,000–$100,000 per mile (≈ $9.50–$18.90 per linear foot) depending on terrain/features. Example: Waynesboro Sunset Park Trails Master Plan (Nov 2022).​ Link: https://svbcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/VA-Waynesboro_Sunset-Park-Trails-Master -Plan-221129.pdf​ • American Trails: crusher‑fines trails typically >$10 per linear foot before MTB‑specific features.​ Link: https://www.americantrails.org/resources/the-art-of-building-crushed-stone-trails Sports Fields (for comparison)​ • Natural grass fields: Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) shows sand‑based systems ~$5.50–$8.00/sq ft (others vary).​

Link: https://www.sportsfieldmanagement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Infographic-Nat-or-Syn-Ins titute-logo-FINAL-resurface.pdf​ • Synthetic turf fields: typical install ~$700,000–$1,500,000; replacement every 8–10 years; disposal often $45,000–$191,000+.​ Links: https://sportsvenuecalculator.com/knowledge/artificial-turf-field/turf-field-cost/​ https://sportsvenuecalculator.com/knowledge/artificial-turf-field/how-much-do-turf-football-fieldscost/​ https://www.healthandenvironment.org/assets/images/webinarimages/Artificial%20Turf%20Q%2 6A_FINAL.pdf​ https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/costs-synthetic-turf Economic Case Studies (Bentonville / Northwest Arkansas)​ • Walton Family Foundation (2017): Bicycling generated $137M in annual economic benefits to Northwest Arkansas.​ Link: https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/about-us/newsroom/bicycling-provides-137-million-in-ec onomic-benefits-to-northwest-arkansas​ • Univ. of Arkansas / CBER (2022/2023): Cycling impact ~$159M annually in NWA.​ Links: https://walton.uark.edu/initiatives/cber/_resources/files/2023/Economic_and_Health_Benefits_of _Bicycling_in_Northwest_Arkansas.pdf​ https://talkbusiness.net/2023/06/study-biking-generates-159m-in-economic-impact-in-northwestarkansas/

Appendix B — Additional Target Funding Sources & Partners In the event additional funds are desirable from the district or Nederland school stakeholders, here are additional opportunities for expansion and growth beyond the current planned outline. State & Regional​ • Colorado State Trails – Non‑Motorized (CPW): Construction grants up to $250,000; requires 25% match (≥10% cash).​ https://cpw.state.co.us/non-motorized-trails-grants​ • GOCO (Great Outdoors Colorado): Community Impact / Pathways for parks & trails; awards $100,000–$2,000,000 (competitive; match negotiated).​ https://goco.org/grants/programs/community-impact​

https://goco.org/grants/programs/pathways​ • CSFS – Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM): Funds fuel‑reduction/forest‑health projects reducing risk to people/property.​ https://csfs.colostate.edu/grants/forest-restoration-wildfire-risk-mitigation/​ • CPW – Outdoor Equity Grants: Up to $100,000 for youth access/programming.​ https://cpw.state.co.us/outdoor-equity-grant-program​ • CYCA / Youth Corps: Seasonal crews for trail and forest health work.​ https://www.cyca.org National / Industry​ • IMBA Trail Accelerator Grants (TAG): $5,000–$30,000 for planning/design (match typically 1:1).​ https://www.imba.com/programs/trail-accelerator-grants​ • PeopleForBikes Community Grants: $5,000–$10,000 for infrastructure/support.​ https://www.peopleforbikes.org/grant-guidelines​ • Outride — Community Impact Grants: $5,000–$15,000 for youth cycling / skills areas / equipment.​ https://outridebike.org/community-impact-grant​ • Outride — Riding for Focus (Middle School): Bikes, helmets, curriculum & training (grant or purchase).​ https://outridebike.org/ridingforfocus​ • REI Cooperative Action Fund: Supports equitable access & stewardship.​ https://www.reifund.org/ Local Partners / In‑Kind​ • Boulder County Youth Corps (and CYCA affiliates) for summer work.​ https://bouldercounty.gov/jobs/youth-corps/​ • Peak to Peak Endurance / Ned Gravel; local bike shops & trail groups for letters, volunteer days, and in‑kind equipment/labor. Draft Funding Stack 1.​ IMBA TAG (planning/design) + PeopleForBikes/Outride (features/equipment).​ 2.​ CPW State Trails (construction lead) with match from $55k combined in‑kind commitments plus modest community cash.​ 3.​ CSFS FRWRM (corridor thinning / wildfire component).​ 4.​ GOCO (if scope expands to broader public access/amenities).​ 5.​ Youth Corps crews (labor during build and annual stewardship).​

Appendix C — Attachments ●​ Satellite image with draft alignment and elevation profile. GPX file: https://webmap.onxmaps.com/backcountry/share/content?share_id=01K408JCJFD22G M0AKVE4HEGHK

Concept Route Proposal

●​ Letters of support (as received) (Google drive folder):

NMSHS mtb trail ​