"About four or five years ago, I realized I was shuttling my kids and our bikes to Three Forks or Bozeman just to be able to ride pump tracks," Belgrade Community Coalition board member Emily Decker told KBZK in January.
That drive is now optional. The City of Belgrade says the new asphalt pump track at Mayfair Meadows Bike Park is finished. The public grand opening is Monday, Oct. 5, from 4 to 5 p.m., off Meadow Circle. The track is meant to keep Belgrade riders close to home. It was also built to a standard that gives riders from much farther away a reason to come to Belgrade.
The Drive Used to Go One Way
Decker's question was simple. "So why couldn't it be easier for us? Why couldn't we have something similar to these other places?" she told KBZK. She pitched a track for riders of every age and skill level. She said it "really will fill a gap for us," for "little kids all the way through elite riders."
She also named a group that had been driving more than most. Decker said Belgrade has a significant BMX population. "They don't have anywhere to train, so they usually have to travel to Bozeman or beyond," she said. "This is going to allow them to qualify for races here and to be able to train here."
The Belgrade Community Coalition led the effort. In a Sept. 15 statement it said: "After 5 years of fundraising and planning, the dream is finally becoming a reality!" The coalition described the work as "transforming a long-vacant lot into recreational space." Until now, the city's park inventory had listed Mayfair Meadows as a grassy open space.
What Got Built on Meadow Circle
The Belgrade News describes a pump track as continuous loops of rollers and berms that you ride without pedaling. Riders build speed by moving their bodies, pushing down into each dip and coming up over each rise. A four-year-old on a balance bike and a racer use the same loop. The difference is how much speed each one carries.
According to the city, the Mayfair Meadows track is a Velosolutions asphalt park built for "all wheels." That includes bicycles, roller-blades, scooters, skateboards and specialized wheelchairs. Decker made the same point to the city council in January. She said the coalition wanted it open to everyone from toddlers on strider bikes to "Olympic hopefuls," and that "it is adaptive-optimized for people with disabilities."
The council approved a construction contract with American Ramp Company on Jan. 20, 2026. The contract has a not-to-exceed price of $299,999. In January, Parks Director Jordan Green expected the track to be ready by the end of summer. The city announced it was complete on Sept. 28, so it arrived only a few weeks after that target.
Why the Design Standard Brings Visitors
According to the city, the track was designed to be certified by the Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling's international governing body. That would qualify it for high-level competition and race-qualifying events. The Belgrade Community Coalition says the track will be able to host national and international bike competitions. The city's wording is "designed to be" certified. Its announcement does not say certification is finished.
The track's rarity is what changes who travels where. The city calls it the only asphalt bike park of its kind within 430 miles, and the only one in Montana. In January, Mayor Mike Meis said it would be the first of its kind in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Decker's family used to drive to Three Forks or Bozeman for pump tracks. With nothing comparable for hundreds of miles, racers who want this kind of surface now have a reason to come to Belgrade.
That is also why the planned seating matters. According to earlier statements from Green, the city and the parks district plan to add bleachers or other seating so people can watch riders, along with a pavilion. A neighborhood loop doesn't need spectator seating, but a track that hopes to host races does.
Monday's First Ride
The grand opening is free. The city is inviting everyone to bring a bike and take a first ride. Here are the details from the city's announcement and calendar:
- When: Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m.
- Where: Mayfair Meadows Park, 632 Meadow Circle.
- Parking: Event parking is at Bridge Church, 608 N. Jackrabbit Lane.
- Speakers: Mayor Mike Meis and the Belgrade Community Coalition will give brief remarks.
- Bike prep: The Service Station of Belgrade will do quick tune-ups and small repairs on site.
If the bike has been in the garage since August, the Service Station table is the easiest place to get tires and brakes checked before the first lap.
Before You Load the Bikes
The city hasn't published everything a regular visitor might want to know. Its facility page for Mayfair Meadows lists a "Bike Pump Track" and a "Bike Trail." The page has no posted hours or track rules. The opening announcement doesn't mention helmet guidance, rider etiquette or a winter schedule. Before treating the track as an everyday stop, check the city's Mayfair Meadows facility page for posted rules and hours.
Two basics are also still on the to-do list. The city names parking and restrooms as future phases, which is why opening-day parking is at the church on Jackrabbit Lane. Plan for a park that is still being finished.
If you want to pair the pump track with another stop, the city's parks inventory lists a skatepark at Lewis and Clark Park, 200 E. Central Ave. It also lists Heaths Bikeway, which you can reach from Sunnyside Park at 605 Stiles Ave. Neither one connects directly to Mayfair Meadows, so expect a short drive between stops.
What Spring Is Supposed to Bring
The city says more site work and improvements are planned for next spring, which means spring 2027. Later phases will move forward "as funding becomes available." Green has named the next riding feature. "The next phase we'll work on is a series of jump lines that will connect to the pump track," he told KBZK. "People can take their bikes on them and really practice their skills."
Here are the planned additions mentioned across the city's announcement and local coverage:
- Jump lines that connect to the pump track
- Parking, restrooms and landscaping
- Gathering spaces, a playground and a walking path
- Bleachers or other seating, and a pavilion
How fast these arrive depends on money. On May 18, 2026, the city voted to seek a $450,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for a phase estimated at $1,028,382, according to the Belgrade News. The paper reported that Gallatin County had provided $100,000 and the Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails and Recreation District had set aside $400,000. The city's resolution authorized the city to apply for the grant. It does not record an award.
The city credits a long list of partners for the track. They include the City of Belgrade, the Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails and Recreation District, the Belgrade Community Coalition, the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, the Gallatin County Open Lands Program and the Rieschel Foundation. Morrison-Maierle, DSC Construction, Cushing Terrell and Rivers Landscaping also worked on it. To follow the jump lines and the rest of the plan, the Belgrade Community Coalition's bike park page and the city's news flash are the two places to watch.
Like a new park, a new amenity can change how a part of town feels to live in. If you live near Meadow Circle and want to know how Belgrade buyers weigh things like this, Brian Heck can walk you through it with a home valuation. Bring your questions, and your bike if you're riding Monday. Request a Home Valuation.
