Paradise Playground/Skills Zone at Monarch Trails/One Track Mind Foundation

[@toddkramer714]

As a local, kudos to Rich Drew for this piece, and big thanks to OTM, Pathfinders, and Three Rivers. Paradise & Silo are such a great addition to the Twin Cities trails. To be blunt, the initial Monarch trails were kind of ho-hum, just another 10-12 miles of cross country. We've got plenty of that around here - Paradise Playground adds much needed variety. Sure would be great to see more trails add this kind of variety.

[@astralzombie]

Gone there a few times since opening, there are always 20-30 people riding there, more than I generally see at any other trail in the Twin Cities metro on any given day…really great to see the enthusiasm. Pathfinder did an amazing job building this excellent and unique trail for this area, which is mostly XC focused trails.

[@chaddeegan6614]

Another great thing to point out on this build is the location and that it is all covered by a trees canopy and allows longer sessions during the steamy months of summer! Well done!

[@adambuck6977]

That was part of our design consideration working with Three Rivers Parks district! They were awesome to work with on it!

[@darrendahlin7720]

So great to have you here!! We are so excited to have this in our backyard!!

[@ShadLife]

Everything that was said here was spot on. We have been wanting something like this for at least 2 decades. Adam Buck and I presented a quickly built makeshift skills area at Buck Hill during the MORC Summit in 2003. I thought back then the stoke would get more progressive trails in our area. Well, it actually took 20 years.....wow!!! So insane that it took that long. So I really do hope that this is a new beginning and we start to see more of this type of trail in our area. We need more features that will help riders truly progress. I have been to Monarch more than any other trail in the cities. I was just telling Yahner that even though it's a terrible drive for me from SW Minneapolis, I still do it because the trail is THAT GOOD!

[@ElTerrible2011]

OTM, Pathfinder and Three Rivers Parks definitely delivered! A welcome disruption for sure. Great video with insight from the people who all made it possible. I’m super grateful to have something like this close to me.

[@72SeaHag]

So cool to see you coming to my area!!

[@hoff482]

Super glad you got a chance to check out Monarch. We are so stoked to have this here. One Track Mind seems to really get it.

[@aweldum]

Great edit of all the footage and the interview. Cant thank you enough for the showcase!

[@jeffwalter6603]

Was awesome to talk to you and Mason out there on opening night!! I attempted to keep up with you two while giving you guys some directions on how to get up to Paradise from the lower lot. Attempted being the key word! You guys are rippers!

[@richdrewtherideseries]

Hey Jeff! Great talking to you as well. Thanks for guiding!

[@tapuzak]

IT’S HAPPENING!

[@JamesRobertMTB]

Sick wooden features! What are they like in the wet though ?

[@dusted25]

A wet trail is a closed trail in MN

[@adambuck6977]

Not too bad! It’s all decked with rough sawn Tamarack which is kind of grippy lumber!

[@JasonFoxLCB]

Sweet! Wonder if my wife will let me take my bike if we visit MSP (where we got married) for our 20th this fall. Hmmmmmmmm.

[@therealjd1503]

🤘🤘

[@BennytheJohnson1]

Literal Trailblazers.

[@catlainamerola8462]

'Promo SM'