From Idea to Impact: How BUMP’s Skills Park Became a Reality
In 2021, Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) had a big idea—but very few answers. The concept of building a mountain bike skills park was exciting, but at the time, the organization had little clarity on what a true skills park should include or how to bring one to life. What BUMP did have was curiosity, persistence, and a belief that Birmingham deserved world-class mountain bike infrastructure.
Learning What a Skills Park Could Be
The first step was education. BUMP began researching skills parks across the country and reaching out to professional designers and builders to better understand best practices. The goal was to learn not only what made a skills park successful, but how to design one that would be inclusive, progressive, and valuable for riders of all abilities.
That learning process took a major step forward in early 2022, when BUMP was accepted into the IMBA Dig In Program. Through this program, BUMP was able to crowdsource funding to commission a professional skills park design and cost proposal. The effort was strengthened by a $2,000 matching grant from Shimano, giving the project its first real financial momentum.
Chasing Funding and Building Momentum
Armed with a professional design and a clear construction estimate, BUMP applied for Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funding in both 2023 and 2024. Despite strong applications, the project was not selected in either funding cycle.
Rather than shelving the idea, BUMP doubled down. The organization continued to share the skills park proposal with anyone willing to look—local leaders, partners, park advocates, and potential funders—believing that the right opportunity would eventually emerge.
The Breakthrough
That opportunity arrived in 2024. Representatives from Oak Mountain State Park (OMSP) informed BUMP that a group was interested in investing in a large-scale project within one of Alabama’s state parks. They asked to present the skills park concept as part of that vision.
The potential investor turned out to be Innovate Alabama, and the result exceeded expectations. Innovate Alabama selected the skills park as a cornerstone of a much larger initiative aimed at elevating Oak Mountain State Park toward an IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center designation.
From Concept to Construction
Once funding was secured, Shelby County stepped in to lead the overall project. BUMP served as the mountain bike subject-matter experts and consultants, ensuring the park would meet the needs of riders and align with national standards.
The skills park design and engineering drawings were completed by American Ramp Company, bringing technical precision and progression-based design to the project. Construction and installation were awarded to FlowMotion, whose team transformed the plans into a fully realized, ride-ready facility.
A Milestone Moment
On December 2, 2025, the journey came full circle with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the new skills park. What began in 2021 as an ambitious idea—without a clear roadmap—had become a permanent, community-serving asset.
The BUMP skills park stands as a testament to persistence, partnership, and the power of sharing a vision until the right collaborators step forward. More than a collection of features and trails, it represents years of learning, advocacy, and belief in what mountain biking can bring to a community.
