Construction is underway at a new park near Rattlesnake Mountain that will offer a new trail system designed for mountain biking, the Si View Metropolitan Parks District announced last week.

Located south of I-90 (Exit 31, off of W. Ribary Way in North Bend), Tennant Trailhead Park is expected to bring several miles of new mountain biking trails that are approachable for beginning riders, but also provide connections to the larger Raging River trail system. Additional foot traffic trails will also be carved out.

Construction of trailhead facilities and a parking area are slated for later this year. Phase 1 of the project is expected to bring in 2 miles of new trails on both sides of W. Ribary Way. A later phase, tentatively scheduled to begin next year, will connect Tennant to the Raging River trail system.

The site will be closed to riders while under construction.

The 32-acre parcel that will soon hold Tennant Trailhead Park was once slated for a large-scale housing development of nearly 100 homes. But a partnership between Si View, the city, King County Parks, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance — and a $1 million county grant — helped preserve the space, according to prior Valley Record reporting.

The master plan for the park was adopted by the North Bend City Council and Si View Board of Directors in 2019, according to the city’s website. The design and construction of phase one of the project are funded through voter-approved Si View Capital Bond. Additional funding through grants will be sought for future phases.

The name, Tennant Trailhead Park, was chosen to honor the Tennant family who were early North Bend residents and prior owners of the land. The family has been present in the community since the mid-1800s, and helped make the park a reality, according to the project’s master plan.