Dugas Park unveils new mountain bike trail in Scottsville, expansion already underway

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (WNKY) – Community leaders in Allen County are celebrating a new addition to outdoor recreation after officially opening a mountain bike trail at Dugas Park.

Park officials and local leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, marking the completion of the trail’s first phase and highlighting long-term plans to expand the system.

“This trail today is indeed phase one,” said Shannon Weaver, executive director of Dugas Park. “We’re going to do another two and a half miles that rounds us out about four miles.”

The newly opened trail includes about a mile and a half of riding space and is designed to accommodate beginners while still offering features for more experienced cyclists.

Weaver said the project aligns with the park’s long-standing mission to provide educational and recreational opportunities for the Scottsville community and its visitors. Planning for the park dates back more than two decades, when the property was first envisioned as a space for public use.

The mountain bike trail came together in recent months through a collaboration between park leadership, volunteers and regional trail experts. Weaver credited board members and community partners for pushing the project forward during a period of organizational transition.

Trail developer Dave Moore, an Allen County native, said the project is especially meaningful to complete in his hometown.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do this in my hometown. It means a lot,” Moore said. “I hope everybody enjoys the trail.”

Organizers say the trail is intended for multiple uses, including biking, hiking and trail running, broadening its appeal to a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts.

Local officials, including Scottsville Mayor David Burch and Allen County leaders, attended the ceremony in support of the project.

The park is also working with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association and local cycling groups, including coach Scott Duvall and the Southern Kentucky Mountain Bike Team, to build interest among younger riders and potentially host future events.

Looking ahead, park leaders say they plan to continue developing trails across the park’s hundreds of acres, with a long-term vision of creating a regional destination for mountain biking and outdoor recreation.

“We want to make it a place where our citizens can brag about it,” Weaver said, “and we want to make it where other people can say they come.”