Portland’s Next Generation of Trail Workers Take on Holman Lane

Written by Eric Oliver

As many folks were preparing to hunker down for the holidays in late December, a crew of about 20 volunteers got together on December 21, 2024, to put some sweat equity into Forest Park’s very own Holman Lane. As an uphill-only trail for cycling, Holman has a bit of a reputation for being a steep climb. But that didn’t stop a hearty group of volunteers from Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA), local composite teams from the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), and youth cycling group Team Booger from joining forces with Portland Parks & Recreation to carry out some much-needed maintenance. 

The drizzly morning helped to create ideal conditions for visualizing Holman’s drainage issues, and the chill in the air made the crew eager to get to work swinging tools – some for the first time. After veteran volunteers demonstrated proper drain building and benching techniques, the younger volunteers (middle and high school students both!) were quick to catch on. As cyclists themselves, they had an intuitive understanding of what makes good tread, and they took ownership in improving a local trail they could come back and ride right away. 

While plenty of dog walkers and hikers offered words of encouragement, it was particularly meaningful when a cyclist came around the corner, working their way uphill, and began cheering us on. The feeling was mutual: our volunteers set their tools down to applaud a fellow rider cresting one of the park’s toughest climbs.   

In just a few hours, the crew benched over 500 feet of trail and built 11 heavy-duty drains on Holman Lane. NWTA is thrilled to facilitate bringing more young cyclists into the trail stewardship world and is grateful to NICA, Team Booger, and PP&R for their support. There’s nothing quite like riding a trail you’ve helped to shape