In December, the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation awarded $250,000 to the group Shaker Ridge Trails to develop a mountain bike network in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.
It turns out that was just a drop in the bucket for Shaker Ridge.
Prior to receiving the money from the state, Shaker Ridge had received $2.5 million from an anonymous donor to create a world-class mountain bike system in western Massachusetts, according to a report on the mountain biking website Singletracks.com.
The 570-acre parcel of land that will be home to the Shaker Ridge Network was acquired by an anonymous private donor for $2 million, according to the article. The philanthropist also invested an additional $500,000 to get the initial build off the ground.
The initial development of Shaker Ridge will include 25 to 30 miles of trails. Plans call for expanding to over 100 miles. The network will cater to riders of all skill levels, including a 10-mile adaptive loop specifically designed for riders of all abilities.