Hopewell Park Mountain Bike Trails

04/27/2026

Hey y’all. Wanted to jump on here quick and remind you that tonight is what I would call the “come to Jesus” meeting about the Pump Track at Hopewell Park.

I have talked to Bob Stoudt about this (literally hundreds of times) and what comes out of tonight will definitely determine what happens with the pump track. As I see it, the possible outcomes are as follows:

1. Things progress normally. Bob uses the money he has, to get the best pump track we can afford…and that’s that. Not sure of exact dates, but I suspect this year…but Bob would have to confirm timetables.

2. Bob outlines the project as it stands today. People get mad, because it’s much less than what we had in mind 6 years ago when we started this odyssey, and they say, “no way. We want our money back or we want to raise more money…but we don’t want what you are proposing.”

3. Bob gives people their money back, and builds what he can with the remaining.

4. Bob gives people their money back, and kills the project completely.

5. Bob agrees to raise more money before contracting and having anything built that isn’t to the liking of the folks who donated.

These are the possible outcomes as I understand them, and one will be decided this evening.

Here is the info about the meeting if you want to be included:

The Montour Area Recreation Commission will meet on Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm in the Montour Preserve’s Environmental Education Center auditorium and online through Zoom.

The meeting agenda and supporting materials are attached to this message.

Thank you.

Bob Stoudt
Director, Montour Area Recreation Commission
374 Preserve Rd, Danville, PA 17821 (office)
PO Box 456, Danville, PA 17821 (mailing)
(570) 336-2060 | [email protected]

02/16/2026

Had a SUBLIME ride at Hopewell this morning on the fatty.

The groomed trails were perfect, as long as I paid attention and stayed toward the middle or in a previous tire rut. The nighttime cold temperatures crusted everything over to the point that I had perfect traction all morning. Could ride everything at just about any speed I could muster. Rode my tires aired down a bit.

Coming back, things were melting a bit, and got a little looser. At that point, steering got a little tougher, and had to work on traction more. But in the beginning….it was slick rock grippy. Really fun ride.

Don’t try to ride stuff not groomed. You will not have a good time.

Thanks to the Montour Area Recreation Commission, Danville Borough, and the second string Snowdog crew from Earthscapes lawn & garden.

01/27/2026

TRAIL GROOMING UPDATE

As of 3pm Monday, January 26, the Montour Preserve Visitors' Center parking lot is cleared and available for use. Work is ongoing to clear other parking lots on the property and is expected to continue through Tuesday, January 27. The Chilisuagi Trail and the Hummingbird Trail have been groomed for cross-country skiing and other foot travel. As a reminder, all trails at the Montour Preserve are closed to bicycles and pets (except service animals).

The access road to the Hess Recreation Area has been plowed, but visitors are cautioned that parking is very limited. Additional clearing will continue in coming days. Trail grooming is planned for Tuesday, January 27.

Trail grooming of select trails at the Hopewell Park / Danville Borough Farm Trail system is planned to begin Tuesday, January 27, and will continue in coming days as needed.

A map of trail grooming conditions at MARC-managed properties is now available at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1HPZ_iAZJJ3TjORY-bEIFoTZZ6RoE790&usp=sharing. This map will be updated in coming days and weeks as conditions change.

Bob

Bob Stoudt
Director, Montour Area Recreation Commission
374 Preserve Rd, Danville, PA 17821 (office)
PO Box 456, Danville, PA 17821 (mailing)
(570) 336-2060 | [email protected]
www.MontourRec.com

12/05/2025

Just a reminder that there are still some trail closures. You can use this link to see the accurate schedule of what days the trails are closed: https://montourreccom.kinsta.cloud/hopewell-parkdanville-borough-farm/

10/16/2025

Since Hopewell Park and the Borough Farm are the main practice area and “home field” for the Hammers, it only seems appropriate that we share this video about the team here.

The Hammers are an amazing team. If you know a young person from the central PA area who might want to be involved, comment here, and we will get you hooked up. We have a Danville school district team and a Composite team (which means you just have to be from the area…and not the district). Ages 6th - 12th grade, boys and girls.

It’s a great experience, and they just won their 5th (in a row) state championship.

After nine years in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League (PICL) and three State Championships, it seemed like the right time to talk a little abou...

05/09/2025

We all have some “lightly used treasures” sitting around. Come on out and let’s trade!

Attention!! Time has changed
Certain rules apply
10% proceeds to the Hammer - cash 👍
All Hammer jerseys $25
Must not leave belonging that don't sell
Honor system
Table or ground displays. Not fussy
BYOT (table)
Type of items maybe limited (ask if unsure)

08/23/2024

HOPEWELL/BOROUGH FARM LOGGING - He heard!

A Forester is being hired by Danville Borough to study how best to log five properties the Danville Borough owns and manages around the town of Danville. What everyone affectionately calls Hopewell park is one of those properties being considered.

Borough Council is trying to fill a $200K budgetary shortfall. They may be able to get that money by logging the Hopewell/Borough Farm property, Hess Field, and three others (not presently used as parks). The Forester is being hired to determine the details of how that might work and deliver that strategy to the Danville Borough Council.

Representatives of Trail User Groups have been quietly attending Danville Borough Property Subcommittee meetings and the more general Council meetings for the past few months to be educated, and to express our concerns in regard to the damage that will be caused even by “selective logging”. However, the official hiring of the Forester seems to indicate that the Danville Borough Council is still desirous to move forward with this idea.

So, it seems now is the time for the public to be heard.

The properties are owned by the Danville Borough, and as a result, they can do as they see fit with their property (just like you can with yours). Hopewell/Borough Farm trails were only ever possible because previous Borough Councils allowed access and welcomed the volunteer trail building efforts. The park only exists because past Borough Councils believed in the value of outdoor recreation and open space. Volunteers created the trail system there today, which would cost more than the $200K of revenue that might be obtained from logging.

Make no mistake: User groups are thankful and fortunate for the past Borough Council’s decisions to make the lands accessible nearly a decade ago. They could have just kept it posted. They could post it again tomorrow. However, most trail enthusiasts also feel that logging the property would do far more damage than good…and want to communicate their reasons why.

If you click the link below, you will get more info, a list of concerns, a place to sign a petition, some history…and more. That page will be updated as things progress, so maybe save the link for future reference.

Everyone understands that the Borough Council has a responsibility to their citizens and tax payers to balance their budget. However, many feel this attempt is short sighted and has the potential to cause more harm than the funds generated. Anyone who cares to look at the history of recreation and open space in this County knows it’s a complex stew of misplaced burdens and inequitable funding. It was addressed in 2004 in a comprehensive plan created by Anne Toole that predicted this day would come…and we did nothing…so here we are today.

Hoping this crisis will shed light on the core problems of open space in Montour County, and help us FINALLY get to something that works for everyone.

Danville Borough is hiring a Forester to prepare a proposal for logging Hopewell Park and five other wooded properties they own in Montour County (another property being Hess Field Park). This page provides details of the process to date, recommendations, and ways you can take action.