At a City Council retreat on March 15, Edina officials reviewed the completion of the Brar Park trail development project, which addresses what one mountain bike team representative called a "desert of mountain bike trails" in the western suburbs.

The project delivers 8 miles of mountain bike trails and 2.5 miles of hiking trails to the 500-acre park, filling a decade-long gap in local infrastructure for Edina high school and middle school mountain biking teams. Voters approved funding for the project through a local option sales tax in 2022.

Landscape Architects Incorporated designed the trail system in collaboration with local youth mountain bike teams. The trails accommodate riders of varying abilities, featuring challenging sections alongside alternative routes for beginners. "We've asked the city to create a system that has both challenging features but features that also can be ridden around or can be avoided by less experienced riders," a representative from the design firm explained.

Before construction could begin, city crews had to remove invasive buckthorn plants through forestry mowing and controlled burning. Officials noted that efforts to control buckthorn and restore native plant species will continue for years after the trails open. Final improvements include signage, hazard removal, and clay capping on trail surfaces.

A representative from the local mountain bike team expressed satisfaction with the finished project. "The community as a whole obviously is going to benefit but I'm here as a representative of the team and the team is really pleased on the Brar Trails," the representative said. The trails are located adjacent to Brar Golf Course within the park.