It was sometime in 2015 when I wondered, "Why are there still no public bmx bike parks in Suffolk County?" What if we had a safe and legal place to ride our bikes without fear of it being plowed, a parking lot to park our cars without disturbing others, restrooms, and clean water? There are plenty of mountain biking trails all over Long Island, specifically C.L.I.M.B. trails, so I thought that would be a good place to start. I was able to get the attention of C.L.I.M.B. president Michael Vitti, who said "Get a meeting with town and get back to me". I started making phone calls...
On April 6, 2017, we presented at town hall in Farmingdale. Councilwoman Valerie Cartwright and Town Supervisor Ed Romaine showed great interest in the project and gave us the green light!
After several years of meetings and contract negotiations, on April 26, 2021 we earned a fully executed contract with the Town of Brookhaven providing us with close to 20 acres (just under 10 football fields) of beautiful wooded terrain. We started construction on the park in July of 2021.
I am so happy to bring this park to the many bike riders (old and the new) that do not have a place to ride. See you out there! And welcome to Percy Raynor Bike Park!
-Joe Lodato
Percy Raynor Bike Park is maintained by Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists (C.L.I.M.B), a non-profit organization that has over 30 bicycle trails all over NY. C.L.I.M.B. Trails are built and maintained entirely by volunteers. Please help support our trail and C.L.I.M.B.
Percy Raynor Bike Park is located in Centereach, Long Island NY, at the intersection of 347 and Belle Mead rd. Just south of the Laurel Ridge (East Setauket) Mtn Bike trail. This location was chosen due to it's "center" location on Long Island and amenities found throughout the park. There is ample parking, a playground, and restrooms.
Percy is an "all-wheel" dirt park; BMX, dirt jumpers, and mountain bikes of all wheel sizes can enjoy the features of this park. These include:
Pumptracks - A loop with mounds called "rollers" that offer high thrills with low risk. Riders of all age will learn how to manipulate their body weight while riding over the rollers, a technique called "pumping". When done correctly, there is no need to pedal!
Jump lines - Percy offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced jumps for riders of all skill levels.
Joe Lodato - Park Founder
Michael Vitti - C.L.I.M.B. President
Neal Weinstein - C.L.I.M.B. Attorney
In collaboration with the Town of Brookhaven's Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, and Parks Commissioner Ed Morris.
The costly insurance C.L.I.M.B. is required to have in order to support this park will need to be funded entirely by fundraising and donations. Please help us keep this park alive. A one year membership to C.L.I.M.B would help greatly. Donations can also be made on the C.L.I.M.B website. Thank you so much for your support.