This is the second installment in our “Where we ride” series to highlight some of the incredible Little Bellas venues across the country. In our first installment “Where we ride: mountain biking with kids in Columbia, Tenn.” we asked, “What makes a great venue for Little Bellas?” and “What makes a mountain bike trail great for kids?”
This time we’re headed to Boyce Park, a multi-featured county park just northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There we’ll meet up with Arias Flory, who was a mentor for the Pittsburgh Little Bellas when the program was held in White Oak. Now she’s the program lead for the program at Boyce.
What’s special about Boyce Park?
Nestled in the rolling hills of Monroeville and Plum, Pennsylvania, Boyce Park is hardly a place to go to relax. This, of course, makes it perfect for Little Bellas and their families. Climbing walls, a wave pool, playgrounds, archery, and an area for flying remote-controlled planes are just an appetizer to a tasty 1,096 acres of trails and sports facilities, beautifully managed and maintained by Allegheny County. For its variety of trails, Boyce Park might just as easily explain why we ride — because a lovingly cared-for trail system makes you appreciate the finer things in life and Boyce Park definitely is a fine thing.
“It's a fantastic venue for the girls,” Arias said. “Compared to White Oak, the terrain is a bit more approachable — not as steep — while still offering a great variety of trails. We have everything from gravel roads and open grass fields all the way up to more technical singletrack that we can work toward as the girls build their skills and confidence. It lets us meet riders where they are and progress together.”
Boyce Park also has special significance for Arias.
“Boyce Park holds a special place in my heart,” she explained. “It was one of the first places I rode when I moved to Pittsburgh. I got very lost out there! But I found my way around eventually, and now I know those trails well. It's also a wonderfully central location for our families, which makes it practical on top of personal.”
Navigating the requirements for a Little Bellas venue is a bit like riding a technical stretch of singletrack: there’s a way through; you just have to find it.
How did Little Bellas score Boyce Park as a program venue?
The main considerations for every Little Bellas venue are accessibility for families and having suitable trails for a range of skill levels. Boyce Park easily checked both boxes, plus had loads of bonus features, which made it even more attractive (and coveted). Where there’s usually a use fee to enter the park, Little Bellas has collaborated with Allegheny County Parks to include that fee in the program cost.
Learn about Little Bellas’ financial assistance and Gear Up! program
Starting Sunday, June 7, Little Bellas will get to take advantage of Boyce Park for two whole hours each week for eight weeks. This program offers eight recurring mountain biking sessions throughout the season to allow each girl to make new friends, learn new skills, and build confidence, all in a positive, fun environment. Whether it's riding the dirt trails, having snacks, or navigating their way through the bike limbo tunnel, the program creates an environment built around having fun and learning the skills of mountain biking.
To learn more about or register for the Little Bellas Pittsburgh program, visit the registration page.
But wait, who’s William D. Boyce?
The Boy Scouts date back more than a century to its founding in England. While out for a walk in London, according to one version, William D. Boyce fell prey to the city’s legendary fog and Boyce lost his way. A young boy, abiding by the Scout credo to help others, guided Boyce out of the mist and sparked Boyce’s curiosity in the Boy Scouts. Apparently one good turn by an unknown scout in London was all it took for Boyce, who’s from the Allegheny area, to establish the Boy Scouts of America.
The park that bears his name may be an enduring metaphor for “one good turn deserves another” since Arias and the Little Bellas use mountain biking as the medium to pay it forward in lasting and meaningful ways.