2024 Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department
Programs & Special Events
For all Griffin Bike Park Events please click on the link below:
Griffin Bike Park Events
July- NRPA’s National Park and Recreation Month! #WhereYouBelong
- 19th Family Olympic Races- with the Vigo County Public Library
- 20th Summer in the Village at Fowler
- 20th Blacksmithing Class at Fowler
- 20th Kids Hiking at Fowler- native plants and animal tracks with the Vigo County Public Library Summer Reading Program
- 24th Thompson Thrift Short Track Series
- 27th thyssenkrupp presta North America Pump Track Series
- 28th J’s Bikes Dual Slalom Series
August
- 2nd – 4th Griffin Bikeapalloza Event
- 2nd Thompson Thrift Short Track Series
- 3rd-4th DINO Series
- 3rd J’s Bike Dual Slalom Series (evening event)
- 2nd Movie in the Park at Fowler Park
- 10th-11th Sundance Skills Clinic
- 10th thyssenkrupp presta North America Pump Track Series
- 17th Summer in the Village at Fowler
- 17th Blacksmithing Class at Fowler
- 21st Thompson Thrift Short Track make up race
September
-
- 7th thyssenkrupp presta North America Pump Track Series make up race
- 8th J’s Bikes Dual Slalom Series make up race
- 14th Triple Scoop Race
- 18th Thompson Thrift Short Track Finals
- 21st thyssenkrupp presta North America Pump Track Series Finals
- 22nd J’s Bikes Dual Slalom Series Finals
- 21st Blacksmithing Class at Fowler
- 21st Village Volunteer Workday at Fowler
- 21st Family Hike- Wabashiki
- 21st Explore Wabashiki
- 24th – 27th VCSC Mini Pioneer Days at Fowler
Moms and tots! Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are going to have to take a break from our weekly mom and tot walks. We hope it won’t be a long break and to be back up and walking this fall sometime after school starts! We apologize and thank you for your understanding.
Family Hiking Club
Third Saturday of every month from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
September 21 at Wabashiki, October 19 at Ruble, November 16 at Hawthorn, December 21 at Prairie Creek
All Ages Welcome
Free Admission
As the weather is warming up, it’s time for family hikes! Gather your family and join us for our monthly hiking club! The third Saturday of every month we’ll meet in one of our county parks to go on a guided hikes on some of our beautiful trails. Hikes will be at 11 am and last until about 12 pm, though some can go longer.
Summer in the Village
Third Saturdays of the month May – August from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
All Ages Welcome
Free Admission
Join the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department at Fowler Park as we open our Pioneer Village for all to enjoy! Our cabin caretakers will open their cabins for you to explore and to demonstrate a variety of 19th century skills and crafts. New this year, each month will have a focus on a different craft or skill for you to learn. August’s focus will be on pioneer foods; baking, fire cooking and more!
Blacksmithing Classes
Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fowler Park Pioneer Village
Ages 10+
$60 Registration
Preregistration Required
Check out the blacksmithing classes at Fowler Park! Participants will learn how to operate a blacksmith forge, understand the parts of an anvil, and the uses of various hand tools in the blacksmith shop. They’ll also get to shape metal using learned techniques including forging a curve, a twist, a square, and more! Join the VCPRD for blacksmithing! Classes fill up quickly so make sure to register ahead of time by calling 812-462-3392 or by emailing our Natural Resource Programmer at [email protected].
Thompson Thrift Short Track Series
Race Dates are June 26th, July 24th, FRIDAY! August 2nd, August 21 and September 18th.
All Ages Welcome
$20. On site registration- Series passes are available
Racing starts at 6:00 pm
Join Griffin Bike Park for the Thompson Thrift Short Track Series. Come out and try your hand at racing or bring your family and watch some of our local talents go at it on the ever-changing Griffin Bike Park short track! Classes for everyone and maybe the easiest courses you will ever see at GBP!
Your best 4 out of 5 races including the finals count towards your season-end awards.
Awards to top 3 at each race and top 5 at season end
Your best 4 out of 5 races including the finals count towards your season-end awards.
Awards to top 3 at each race and top 5 at season end
thyssenkrupp presta Pump Track Series
Race Dates are June 29th, July 27th, August 10th September 7 (double points), and Finals are September 21st
All Ages Welcome
Registration is ONLY $15 and the day of the first race begins at 10:00 A.M.
Age Classes
Men and Women: Strider Bike
• 7 and Under
• 8-10
• 11-14
• 15-18
• Adult
Men and Women: Strider Bike
• 7 and Under
• 8-10
• 11-14
• 15-18
• Adult
Join Griffin Bike Park for the thyssenkrupp Presta North America Pump Track Series! Bring your speed and skills to Griffin Bike Park to race on the Pro Pump Track for prizes and bragging rights! This is a five-race series and will culminate with the Finals on September 21. This race will be a time trial individual style racing against the clock and your competition times. Your best 3 attempts will be averaged to find a winner. This will determine class champions for each age group and overall points for the race series.
This race is a BMX-style race, BMX and mountain bikes are highly recommended. We encourage all racers to arrive early to check out the pump track and register!
General rules
• If an athlete is younger than 18 years, his parents have to sign the “waiver for minors“ and bring this to the onsite check-in. No waiver = no ride.
• Riders are allowed to participate in as many races as they choose. The best 4 out of 5 races plus the Finals count towards season-end awards.
• All riders have to register and sign the waiver 1st before going on the track for free practice.
• Riders are free to choose their preferred bike. The bike must not have an engine.
• The start will be placed in a way that gives MTB and BMX equal chances.
• Riders will go one at a time.
• Riders get ready with one foot on the ground, the other foot on the pedal,. The time starts running as soon as the rider crosses their start/finish timing line and stops when they cross it again.
• Riders must run 3 laps. Your 3 best laps will be averaged to determine your time and placing.
Please note:
Rider safety
• Riders will bring all equipment needed in a fully operational condition.
• The bike should have at least 1 rear brake.
• No bikes with any kind of automatic transmission, pedal-assist motors, or engines.
• No protruding parts on the bike, which can injure other riders (such as pegs).
• Protective gear.
• Helmet: open face mandatory, full face recommended.
• T-shirt is mandatory, long sleeve with pads is recommended.
• Long pants or knee protection is recommended.
• Shoes mandatory, no flip flops or open shoes.
• Gloves recommended.
Awards
Top 3 to each class per race.
Top 5 per class Season Awards
This race is a BMX-style race, BMX and mountain bikes are highly recommended. We encourage all racers to arrive early to check out the pump track and register!
General rules
• If an athlete is younger than 18 years, his parents have to sign the “waiver for minors“ and bring this to the onsite check-in. No waiver = no ride.
• Riders are allowed to participate in as many races as they choose. The best 4 out of 5 races plus the Finals count towards season-end awards.
• All riders have to register and sign the waiver 1st before going on the track for free practice.
• Riders are free to choose their preferred bike. The bike must not have an engine.
• The start will be placed in a way that gives MTB and BMX equal chances.
• Riders will go one at a time.
• Riders get ready with one foot on the ground, the other foot on the pedal,. The time starts running as soon as the rider crosses their start/finish timing line and stops when they cross it again.
• Riders must run 3 laps. Your 3 best laps will be averaged to determine your time and placing.
Please note:
Rider safety
• Riders will bring all equipment needed in a fully operational condition.
• The bike should have at least 1 rear brake.
• No bikes with any kind of automatic transmission, pedal-assist motors, or engines.
• No protruding parts on the bike, which can injure other riders (such as pegs).
• Protective gear.
• Helmet: open face mandatory, full face recommended.
• T-shirt is mandatory, long sleeve with pads is recommended.
• Long pants or knee protection is recommended.
• Shoes mandatory, no flip flops or open shoes.
• Gloves recommended.
Awards
Top 3 to each class per race.
Top 5 per class Season Awards
J’s Bikes Dual Slalom Series
Race dates are June 30, July 28, SATURDAY, August 3, September 8, September 22.
Qualifiers at 1:00 p.m. Racing at 2:00 p.m.
August 3rd times Quals 5:00p.m. Racing at 6:00 p.m.
August 3rd times Quals 5:00p.m. Racing at 6:00 p.m.
All Ages Welcome
Costs:
$25
$30 Dash for Cash. Non-points 80% payout to top 3 finishers.
$25
$30 Dash for Cash. Non-points 80% payout to top 3 finishers.
Classes:
Men and Womens
10 and under
11-14
15-18
Adult Men
Rookie Class (non points, 2 wins must move to age class)
Men and Womens
10 and under
11-14
15-18
Adult Men
Rookie Class (non points, 2 wins must move to age class)
Join Griffin Bike Park and J’s Bikes as they bring you Dual Slalom Racing on our dual slalom course at the Griffin Bike Park. Our true King of the Mountain competition. Riders will be broken down into age classes. Racing 2 heat bracket racing to determine class champions for each race and overall season points Championships.
Medals to the top 3 finishers in each race.
Awards to Series champions. Must Race 3 races including Finals on September 22
Medals to the top 3 finishers in each race.
Awards to Series champions. Must Race 3 races including Finals on September 22
Bike-a-palooza
August 2nd – 4th
All ages welcome
Join us for our 2024 Bike-a-palooza weekend!
Starting Friday August 2nd our Thompson Thrift Short Track Series will start at 6 pm followed by a Movie Night in the Park across the street at Fowler Park where DJ Danny Wayne will be showing “Arthur the King”
Saturday August 3rd join DINO Triathlon & Adventure Racing for their 10K Trail Run and Gravel Triathlon! Registration linked below! Followed by our J’s Bikes Dual Slalom race starting at 6 pm (qualifiers at 5 pm)! Finish the night out with DJ Melo Heilo starting at 7!!
Sunday August 4th DINO Mountain Biking will be rounding out the weekend with their MTB race! Trails will be open following the races.
Two Pigs BBQ will be in the LZ Saturday and Sunday and campsites for Fowler Park are still available, link also available below!
Be sure to join us for a jam packed, awesome weekend!
D.IN.O. registration:
Camping:
or
Bike-a-palooza Movie in the Park
August 4th at 9:00 p.m.
All ages welcome- *this movie is rated PG-13 viewer discretion is advised*
Free admission
Join us on August 4th at 9:00 p.m. at Fowler Park in the Shelter A field for our Bike-a-palooza Movie in the Park! The movie will begin after sundown, admission is free but popcorn and drinks will be available for purchase. We will be showing Arthur, The King- this movie is rated PG-13 so viewer discretion is advised.
