A new mountain bike park is in the early stages of development in Lucedale, where organizers hope to turn more than 60 acres of city-owned land into a regional destination for riders and families.
The project is being led by the Legendary Cycling Association, a nonprofit started in 2025 to create opportunities for young riders across South Mississippi. Director Sabrina Smith said the effort grew out of a need for more places to ride in a region with limited trail access.
“We’re very limited on space, as Mississippi does not have a lot of bike trails, especially in South Mississippi,” Smith said.
Smith said volunteers began clearing and marking trails in early April, and the city is preparing to remove debris from the property. Organizers expect the first phase of trail development to be ready by summer 2026, with expansion planned for 2027 and full completion projected for mid-to-late 2028.
Plans for the park include trails for children and more experienced riders, along with pump tracks, walking trails, picnic areas and other green space.
“We’ll have kiddie trails and a little pump track for the kids (and) a bigger pump track for the older kids,” Smith said. “We’ll have some walking trails, picnic areas.”
The project is expected to rely heavily on grant funding. Smith said organizers are working with Heritage Trails, a partner helping pursue grants, including a federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“That’s the federal funding that doesn’t open up until November,” Smith said.
She said that grant could cover up to 80% of project costs. Organizers are also seeking grants to help cover the city’s required 20% match. Until then, the project is relying on donations and volunteer labor.
The bike park is separate from, but tied to, a broader effort to restore Lucedale’s Greenway, which Smith said has gone largely unused for years. She said the two projects could eventually connect and that applying for grants together may help the city compete for larger funding opportunities. Full Greenway restoration is not expected before 2027.
Smith told organizers hope the project will do more than create a place to ride. She said it could give local children and families more outdoor recreation options while also drawing visitors to Lucedale.
“I’m looking for Lucedale to have a huge economic impact come 2028,” Smith said. “These trails are going to attract people from all over the region.”
She also said the space is intended to serve the wider community.
“It gets kids healthy, it gets kids off electronics, it gets kids out in nature,” she said.
With construction still in its earliest phase, Smith said volunteers will continue to play a key role in clearing land and building the first sections of trail.
“We’re just looking and reaching out to the community, you know, for help with all hands on deck and also monetary support until we can get those funds coming in,” Smith said.
