Blackburn Dirt Jumps

Build safer but skillful enough jumps

People that have been to these jumps know how much effort has gone into these jumps, I think that somewhere around that area build some bigger tabletops that way it is more safe for kids of all ages and can be either a community project or the council build them. I suggest something like anglesea bike park obviously not as large but jumps like those big tabletops that everyone can ride otherwise I suggest that the council finds some building space that us MTB riders can build jumps. It’s also hard having no local jumps and having to travel 10+ kilometres to find anything near that’s slightly good and these ones just are a good little local spot. What I’m trying to say is Make a new place around these jumps that is out of the way of the freeway but is not too far away.

BMX track in the same location with an outdoor gym

Keep it. And build a skatepark & other facilities too.

Although I am a Whitehorse resident I am very close to Manningham; I also I am not a dirt jump user currently. I see no issue with the current location. However if they must be relocated I think it's important than the community of users are the creators of the new jumps. It would be terrific if this was part of a larger area of sport development with an outdoor gym and skatepark. Skateparks are as busy as ever and with the addition of BMX & skateboarding in the Olympics I only expect the number of users to grow. (honestly on the weekend some skateparks are too busy to be worth going to) A skatepark to rival Box Hill & Noble Park, sharing facilities with a community made dirt jumps area in the Blackburn North area, nearby to the Koonung Creek Trail for easy access would be perfect. Unless the expansion of the Eastern Freeway due to the NE link requires the current BMX area, then I think the current area is a perfect use of public land for the proposed facilities. To reiterate, the best dirt jumps are always those made by the community, with facility support from local councils.

BMX trail with outdoor gym equipment

Research other good riding spots

You have to build something with enough progression for beginners, right up to advance. It has the be good enough that people want to ride, can progress safely and ultimately not build illegal jumps anyway. Don’t make another sub par riding spot (like quarry road in Footscray) Make it good enough for parents, teenagers and young kids to enjoy all together. At a minimum it has to be on par with the following locations. Check out places in Victoria like: Hill n Dale in Glen Iris. Black Hill dirt jumps in Ballarat. Dandenong concrete box bmx jumps in Dandenong. Bright dirt jumps in bright - great example of a line for each skill set. Straith trails in strathfeildsaye. Interstate examples would be: City jumps in Adelaide. Red hill in Sydney. And if you could do it, the best place to replicate would be Bare creek (the ultimate riding destination!) in Sydney. Huge, riding for every style. Progression from a-z! If the budget and space allows, a mix of concrete and dirt would be good so it can be ridden all year round. If done correctly it can become a huge asset to your council! Just make sure you use professionals to build (dirt art, trails scapes etc) as anything bellow average will become a waste of space. Each council in the east has had an influx of illegally built jumps and trails and bike sales have gone through the roof, so the demand is there. Do it right and the local cafes and takeaways joints will be thriving for years to come!