From Racing to Digging: NICA Composite Team Adopts Butternut Creek Bike Park

NICA — the National Interscholastic Cycling Association — has an impressive presence in Oregon. Across the state, different teams, called “composites,” bring 6-12 grade students together regionally. Roughly half a dozen NICA composite teams live and ride in NWTA’s service area, and we’re always excited to cross paths with them on the trails.

One of the local NICA composite teams recently engaged in an Adopt-A-Park agreement with Hillsboro Parks and Recreation to maintain the Butternut Creek Bike Park. Butternut Creek Park is a small but mighty neighborhood green space, and the designated bike skills area features loops of rollers, turns, and jumps.

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, the NICA team led by Coach Hiram spent their first maintenance day outside at the park. The crew worked to rebuild the lips of jumps, widen the trail where the grass had crept in, and armor down the tread with gravel. The polished tread helps showcase the loops to new and seasoned riders alike, and the cleaned drains and new gravel will keep the trail in solid shape with spring’s inevitable rain.

NWTA was happy to attend and provide trail tools and guidance. Thanks to Hillsboro Parks and Recreation for providing staff time and bringing materials on-site to help with the maintenance.