Permanently Closed Landfills Get New Lives as Bike Parks

The Colline d'Élancourt

Many local governments around the world, including here in our very own Colorado, have reclaimed and repurposed permanently closed landfills into popular bike parks and recreation hubs.

Landfills have stringent environmental and safety regulations applied to them, while they are actively operating and upon their permanent closure. At the time of permanent closure, landfills are capped, covered, restored and monitored closely for environmental impacts for several years. And, long-term monitoring and repurposing can happen simultaneously, depending on the type of waste collected and the sustainability of materials used at the time of closure.

The Larimer County landfill is approaching its End-of-Life and permanent closure as well.

The Larimer County landfill has elevation changes galore, where local bike park advocates could develop a “regional world-class, recreation destination” bike park. To illustrate, during the Paris 2024 Olympics, the mountain bike cycling events were held at a popular bike park on a reclaimed and repurposed landfill.

Meanwhile, in New York City:

“Morris cites as the best example of landfill reuse the evolution of New York City’s Fresh Kills landfill, once the largest landfill in the United States, now Freshkills Park, a 2,200-acre site that when completed will offer public parkland three times the size of Central Park.”

The landfill closed in 2001, with the first phase of the park opening in 2015.

Check out some other examples of other landfills turned parks and bike parks below!

• The Colline d'Élancourt, located in the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines area, is an artificial hill created through the rehabilitation of former quarries and landfill sites. 

  • This location was used as a competition venue for the Paris 2024 Olympics (see a video of the course).

  • Elancourt Hill will host cycling mountain biking events during the Olympics. The competition trails, primarily based on pre-existing paths, were designed by South African expert Nick Floros. The trails are perfect for all skill levels—from amateur explorers to professional competitors. (2024)

• Mount Trashmore, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

  • A unique experience awaits at 2250 A Street SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where visitors can walk, run, or bicycle to the top of Mount Trashmore! The highest point in Linn County, Mount Trashmore is a former landfill turned community asset.

• Singletracks.com: Turning a Landfill into Singletrack Treasure

  • The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition is turning an old landfill into a mountain bike center in Waynesboro, Virginia (2023)

• Colorado Landfill Converted To Bike Park (Junk Used As Features)

  • “It didn’t take long for Slate and Coulter to start riding on top of the junk and imagining a bike park that would not only fill a local need but would also draw people to RMOC to take advantage of the outpost’s other features, such as its microbrewery, food truck and riverside seating.” (2022)

• Stone Eater Bike Park Opens (Indiana)

  • The four-year transformation, from landfill to bike park is now complete. Stone Eater Bike Park is now open in Lebanon, Indiana. The 110-acre former landfill is now a world class bike park, with areas open for walkers and joggers to enjoy as well. (2024)

• Lebanon Bike Park (Ohio)

  • Designed and built with the motivation to provide a cool place for kids, families and adults to ride and advance their skills together. We offer big mountain fun (on a former landfill) in the heart of the Midwest. Come check it out!

• More Information

  • Evaluating Conditions of Landfills for the Post-Closure Care Period

  • Readying for Resurrection: Planning Landfills for Reuse

  • From Dumps to Destinations: Converting Landfills to Parks

The Colline d'Élancourt