Haywood County is on financial track to build a mountain bike park with the awarding of a state grant. The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund awarded $500,000 to build a terrain park called a pump track on land in Waynesville near the old Francis Farm landfill.
The track would be built on 19 acres of buffer land around the landfill.
County commissioners are matching the grant money. Total cost of the project is $1.9 million, and $1.3 million is lined up. To cover the remainder, county leaders are starting a naming rights and donation campaign.
Original plans for the facility have been adjusted to have tracks for different skill levels closer together.
“Next step, we're still waiting on a final design since we made those changes, final bike park design plan, so that we can go out to bid with the project,” Haywood County Parks and Recreation Director Ian Smith said.
Bids are expected to go out next year, with the park opening in 2024.