Crossing the Delaware (Park)

After 20 years of being unused, Delaware Park has become a popular spot for mountain bike enthusiasts.

For most of its 20 years, Delaware Park remained untouched and mostly unknown nestled between Lexington Avenue and Old Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau. The city's master plan calls for developing the 18 acres as a neighborhood park with picnic tables and a shelter, but funding has been unavailable.

The Richard Renfrow family donated the land to Cape Girardeau in 1986. The city allowed a farmer to graze cattle on the property for several years, and only a few hikers seemed to know about it.

Had it not been for a group of mountain bike enthusiasts with an idea, the city park may have remained nearly unused for another 20 more years, said Dan Muser, Cape Girardeau parks and recreation director.

Today, approximately 2 miles of a mountain bike trails wind through the trees.

Last spring, Cycle Werx owner John Dodd and a couple of friends proposed the idea to Muser and to Mayor Jay Knudtson.

They liked the idea, Dodd said.

After receiving permission from the city to create the trail, Dodd and Dustin Gross, service manager of Cycle Werx, went to work turning their dream into a reality. There were long hours of marking a trail and weed-eating through thick brush to make a suitable course through the park.

When the course was complete, Dodd, Gross and several others rode the trail to pack down the ground.

The first mountain bike race at Delaware Park drew 70 competitors at the end of August. It was the first race of its kind in the region since a competition eight years ago in Old Appleton.

Since the race, Delaware Park has become a hot spot for mountain bike enthusiasts and other bike riders. Cape Girardeau assistant fire chief Mark Hasheider frequents the park and rides the trail about twice a week.

The assistant fire chief has been competing in mountain bike races throughout the state for the past seven years. He usually rides in about nine per year.

Hasheider placed second in his age group in the race at Delaware Park.

The trail is a little less technical than some others he has been on, Hasheider said, but offers other challenges. "This one offers you the chance to improve your riding ability. Especially with all of the turns, it's a lot of slowing down and getting back up to full speed."

Dodd's daughter, Tatum, took her first ride through Delaware Park on Labor Day. The 10-year-old hopes to begin racing next year.

Delaware Park, named after an Indian tribe, is one of 20 parks in the city of Cape Girardeau. Some are designed for specific uses. Delaware Park is the only one with a mountain bike trail.

As the area around Delaware Park develops, Muser said, the park may no longer be suitable for the mountain bike trail.

"They understand that it's temporary, that at some point in time they may not be able to use it," Muser said. "It all depends on funding. If funds are available, then sure, I see something happening with that park."

jfreeez@semissourian.com