Residents urge Menomonee Falls to develop dedicated mountain-bike trails for youth teams

During the public-comment period on March 16, several residents urged the Village Board to pursue dedicated mountain-bike trails to provide a home venue for middle- and high-school ride teams and create volunteer opportunities through programs such as NICA's Teen Trail Corps.

Paul Schmidt, a 30-plus-year Menomonee Falls resident and parent of team riders, proposed two locations for trails: Tower Hill Park (near Johnson's Nursery) and an area near Menomonee Avenue and Main Street where the village and school district both own adjacent property. He said the school teams have practiced with makeshift courses in Rotary Park but would benefit from permanent trails.

"I'd like to promote the idea of building mountain bike trails for the community at large and more specifically for the Menomonee Falls middle school and high school mountain bike race teams," Schmidt said, asking that staff identify the appropriate next steps at a staff level.

Coaches and student riders corroborated Schmidt's pitch. Chris Hebert, who volunteers as a head coach, said trail access would provide training continuity and that team members could contribute volunteer labor to trail construction. Louis Heinemann, a coach and Wacker Neuysen engineer, offered company resources and staff time (equipment operators) to assist with building and maintaining trails.

Hazel Hebert, a high-school freshman and returning team rider, said having closer trails would reduce long drives for practice and strengthen the team's identity.

Trustees did not debate the matter during public comment but acknowledged the remarks and indicated staff would track the request and consider it within planning and parks priorities.