A mother’s dream of creating a space where her children and others can ride their bikes has become a reality.
More than two years after Louise Raine came up with the idea, Richmond Bike Park welcomed its first visitors when it opened at the weekend.
The project has attracted significant financial backing from the likes of the National Lottery, Sport England, the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Harmony Energy and Broadacres Housing Association.
The mum-of-three said the response from the community had been “a bit overwhelming”.
The opening marks the culmination of two-and-a-half years of fundraising, planning and hard work by volunteers, businesses and supporters.
Raine launched a campaign for the park in Richmond as she had to travel for 45 minutes to find a suitable facility for her three children to use.
The free-to-use park, which is a network of graded bike trails built in fields off Green Howards Road, was granted planning permission by North Yorkshire Council in August 2025.