Benson MTB, dream big, change the future.
Why mountain biking?
Biking gets you off the couch and moving. It instills confidence, helps moderate emotion, improves focus and concentration, and combats obesity, depression and mental disorders. Riding bikes at a bike park can help everyone work though these issues and improve quality of life. (saris foundation)
-Gets kids outside!
-Inclusive, healthy outdoor activity for most age groups
-Fun the whole family can have together, at the same time, no other sport offers this
-Builds community
-Measurable physical and mental health benefits through activity and participation of an unscripted sport, no winners or losers.
-Presents an option for those not participating in traditional sports, more healthy activities for locals
-Land conservation through public parks and preserves
-Mountain biking low impact, has similar environmental impact to hiking trails
-Low maintenance
-Local economic growth
Why benson?
-Local riders/racers currently must travel far to ride and race including students
- Benson High School Mountain Bike Team and the cross country running team need sanctioned local trails for practice
-The Benson/Cochise “Community Needs Assessments” identified healthy activities, economic development, and mental health resources as areas needing improvement
-Positive impact on community,Benson needs more healthy activities
-Benson’s unique location, we are on i-10! The topography and excellent weather are huge advantages, currently there are no flow trails in southern AZ! We have the dirt!
-Race events can provide positive economic impact while maintaining community values, similar to a weekend rodeo
-Controlled growth through strategic planning
-We are not in this alone! Outside experts aid in properly building toward city goals while again, maintaining its values.
Positive impacts of creating and “Adventure tourism destination”!
-New community building through volunteerism
-Quantifiable Physical and Mental health benefits community wide
-Mountain Bikers in AZ spend an average of $95 per day per person when visiting a trail destination area. Benson can be a mountain bike “destination area” .
-Potential Race event revenue for the city(NICA,MBAA,ACA,UCI)
-New businesses/job creation through tourism
-Increased tax revenue for the city
-AZ residents spend an estimated $8.5 billion per year on non-motorized outdoor recreation!
-The question is, does Benson want to participate in healthy, lucrative outdoor recreation tourism that is beneficial for the residents?!