Outdoor adventures await in Joplin with the opening of the City of Joplin’s new MOmentum Bike Park, featuring fun and challenging elements for all ages!
A good crowd gathered during a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 24, and riders were excited to get on the trails. Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez noted that it had been just nine months since the groundbreaking for this park.
“This bike park has been a vision for many riders, and a goal for the City for a number of years. We’re here to celebrate and open this amazing new attraction for Joplin — in Joplin. There’s no reason you have to leave to have a great experience — now you can do that here!”
Noted as the largest municipal facility of its kind in Missouri, MOmentum offers ten miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails, BMX pump track, and a children’s bicycle playground. It also features bridges and skills features for riders to learn new skills before heading out on the more challenging sections.
“We are pumped to open this incredible and unique park to Joplin and our surrounding communities,” said Paul Bloomberg, Director of Parks and Recreation. “People who may not have visited a bike park before will be amazed at the different features and trails that we’ve created. There’s something for the little ones all the way up to the skilled bikers.
“There’s more exciting news too! The Grand Launch Party for MOmentum will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Come out for live demonstrations, watch professional riders, enter for giveaways, and enjoy the entertainment as we host our first event of many more to come.”
Bloomberg also told the crowd that Joplin is planning to host an annual bike festival in the park each fall. Watch for more details.
MOmentum features more than 132,000 square feet of formal bike park within the 95-acre site. Riders of all ages and skill levels will enjoy the variety of options. It offers both a regional attraction and a community asset which promotes active lifestyles and family-friendly recreation.
During the ribbon-cutting, Mayor Cortez recognized the partners who worked together to bring this project to Joplin, including Crossland Construction, the general contractor; SWT Designs for design and engineering work; International Mountain Biking Association for work on the trails; and American Ramp Company, the Joplin-based, international company, which provided their skills and biking knowledge to build park elements that will energize and inspire riders of all ages.
The bike park is a great attraction for our community and will also draw many biking enthusiasts to Joplin to enjoy and attend future events. The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) ARPA Local Tourism Grant provided over $ 1.5 million to expand and improve this project.
Brian Schwarz, the DED’s Regional Engagement Representative for our area, attended the event, along with Stephen Foutes, Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism. Cortez thanked them for their support and attendance to celebrate this historic opening in Joplin.
Other funding for MOmentum came from the Parks and Stormwater Tax and the Hotel/Motel Tax.
Reference:
Lynn Iliff Onstot, Public Information Officer
City of Joplin
417.624.0820, ext. 204
LOnstot@joplinmo.org
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