HollyHills Directory 2025

22 2025 | Holly Hills Directory Mountain Bikes in Carondelet Park Ryan Hanlon has lived in Holly Hills since 2007, and since 2007 he’s dreamed of an off-road cycling track in Carondelet Park. Now, Hanlon’s dream has come true. With support from Gateway Off Road Cyclists (GORC), Southside Cyclery, Friends of Carondelet Park and plenty of friends and neighbors, he spearheaded the effort that brought to the park the first and only sanctioned mountain bike course in the city of St. Louis. The entry-level track is about one mile and consists of two loops through two sinkholes on the north side of the park. “It’s finished, it’s open,” Hanlon said. “It is so fun. There was a family of five out there with itty bitty kids out there. The trail is seeing use.” Hanlon, who lives on Dover Street, has been active in Holly Hills as chair of the Special Business District Infrastructure Committee and a member of the Friends of Carondelet Park board. He has also been involved in the Ozark Trail Association and GORC for many years. Mountain bike racing is growing in popularity, sparked in part by the COVID pandemic and as access to trails increases, Hanlon said. “It’s not something that’s just in Utah or Colorado anymore.” Hanlon said the trail can also be used for hiking. “It’s definitely a hiking and mountain biking trail,” he said. “It’s not a mountain biking trail only.” Located in the least-used part of the park, the trail will provide a multitude of benefits and draw new park users. One group in particular, the South City Otters, will finally have their own practice course, Hanlon said. The co-ed team of 6th through 12th graders is part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, whose aim is to get kids on mountain bikes and learn important life skills along the way. Hanlon emphasized that the trail was built and will be maintained by donations and grants and “by sheer will and determination,” without any park money, Hanlon said. “We won’t just build it and walk away.” In fact, Hanlon is one of two trail stewards, along with Deanna Kakouris from South Side Cyclery, who monitor the trail and are responsible for its maintenance. Recently, Friends of Carondelet Park, a major partner in the trail, was awarded a $2,500 grant from the River City Foundation to build a trailhead area, akin to those you