How a Kentucky Town Became the State's First Urban Trail Town

James Moore · 2026-08-12

Elizabethtown, Kentucky, sits just south of Louisville, but it's making a name for itself in the mountain biking world. This town of about 30,000 people has earned the distinction of being the state's first "Urban Trail Town." That's not just a catchy label—it's a commitment to weaving trails into the fabric of daily life. For more than 50 years, a local nonprofit called Greenspace has been preserving corridors and natural spaces throughout the community. Their work has linked roughly 40 miles of bike and walking paths across the city. That long-standing dedication to non-motorized routes laid the groundwork for something bigger: bringing real singletrack to Kentucky's Urban Trail Town. ### A New Partnership Takes Shape Now, some heavy hitters in the cycling world are paying attention. NICA (the National Interscholastic Cycling Association), IMBA (the International Mountain Bicycling Association), and PeopleForBikes have teamed up with Greenspace to expand what's possible in Elizabethtown. Their focus is simple: get singletrack trails closer to where people actually live. The centerpiece of this effort is the Trooper Lake project, which is slated to include about six miles of new trail. But this isn't just about one park. The organizations involved hope Trooper Lake will become a blueprint that other towns across the country can follow. ### What Riders Can Expect at Trooper Lake David Haines, Kentucky League Coach Development Manager, explained the vision. "Trooper Lake is meant to be the home course for the local NICA team with the ability to host events," he told us. "The current planned trail mileage is expected to be around 5-6 miles of green- and blue-skill-level trails, with the possibility of alternate advanced lines." That's smart planning. The trails will be designed as cross-country-style loops that NICA teams can practice and race on without much fuss. As we've seen with other trail systems that cater to youth racing, progression is the key. Bigger features will have optional go-arounds, so beginners can build confidence while advanced riders push their limits. Denile Hill, Kentucky NICA League Director, added some context. "In addition to all [Haines] shared about Trooper Lake, we also want to add that Trooper Lake is being purpose-built to host not only team practices, but Kentucky NICA racing and events, and potentially a NICA regional event." ### Room to Grow The project started with 75 acres of city-owned land. A recent land acquisition added 40 more acres, which gave planners enough room to fit the six miles of singletrack. But there's more potential on the horizon. Haines mentioned the "potential of acquiring 60-70 more acres," which would let the trail system expand even further down the road. Trooper Lake won't just be a trail network, though. It's being built as a full city park with the usual amenities. Visitors can expect bathrooms, pavilions, play areas, and picnic tables. Professional trail builders will handle the construction, but NICA anticipates a strong volunteer turnout from local clubs—both athletes and coaches pitching in. ### A Model for Other Communities "NICA and IMBA have a new partnership aimed at getting trails closer to kids," said Dallen Atack, who works for NICA Field Operations. Elizabethtown turned out to be the perfect testing ground for this approach, largely because Greenspace has been advocating for outdoor recreation for so long. Funding is coming together from multiple angles. Greenspace provided the initial money to start planning with IMBA. SRAM stepped in with $80,000 over the next two years—$40,000 for Elizabethtown and $40,000 for a future project elsewhere. The city itself has budgeted $1.8 million for planning and the start of construction. When complete, Trooper Lake Park will be the 11th park in the city. ### Lessons from Lost Trails Interestingly, losing access to trails helped push this project forward. The beloved Buffalo Lake trails, located right next to downtown, were impacted by the construction of an amphitheater, and several trails were lost. To the city's credit, they moved quickly to make up for the lost mileage. What really sealed the deal? Local NICA student-athletes showed up to council meetings and told city leaders about the positive impact trails have had on their lives. That personal testimony made a difference. Trooper Lake, with the backing of the established Greenspace network and a community that clearly values outdoor recreation, is poised to become a model for how towns can bring mountain biking closer to home.