The Decatur Park District is excited to announce the opening of a brand-new Bicycle Skills Course for children, designed to help young riders gain confidence, improve balance, and have fun while learning the rules of the road.

Located directly adjacent to the traditional bike trail, the new skills course provides a safe, contained environment for children to practice riding before joining their families on longer trail adventures. The course features a variety of obstacles and challenges — including gentle turns, balance areas, and simulated street crossings — all built to encourage safe riding habits and improve cycling skills.

“This new course is the perfect complement to our existing trail system,” said Executive Director Clay Gerhard. “It gives kids a fun and safe place to build confidence while providing families another reason to get outside and enjoy our parks together.”

The Bicycle Skills Course supports the Park District’s mission to promote healthy lifestyles, outdoor recreation, and family-friendly amenities. With the addition of this course, Decatur families can now enjoy a full spectrum of cycling opportunities — from beginner riders learning the basics to seasoned cyclists exploring miles of scenic trails.

This outstanding project was designed by civil engineering firm Fehr Graham, constructed by Entler Excavating and Dunn Company. The course also contains several whimsical landscape touches completed by the Decatur Park District Horticulture team including flowering hydrangeas and hibiscus plants, as well as native grasses.

The course is free and open to the public during regular park hours. The Decatur Park District invites families to visit Fairview Park and take advantage of this new facility to enhance children’s bicycling skills and safety awareness.