First time you’ve ridden the trails there? What did you think?

The MTB area at Academy Park is a good beginner resource. The area is mostly flat flood plain, that has been ‘massaged’ with machine-built humps and gullies. There is one section (the entire MTB area is sections tied together, not one continuous trail) that traverses the embankment along Cherry Bottom that would qualify as challenging for climbing & braking skills. But mostly it’s chill trail riding along Big Walnut Creek or in the bottom lands. Central to the layout is a small ‘play area’, all machine sculpted humps and bowls for noodling around, constructed of some white-ish material that isn’t sand, and I wonder if it’s an industrial byproduct similar to fly ash. There are a handful of manufactured wood ramps and rollers for advanced skill riders - all those have ride-around opportunities which I was happy to see. Overall the park feels kid friendly and is a good resource so close and accessible compared to Alum Creek MTB and Chestnut Ridge MTB. Bathrooms are on site and there is paved parking.