How to Pair Playgrounds with Bike Paths for Parks

May is National Bike Month, a time when communities across the country celebrate the joy, health, and environmental benefits of cycling.

“In 2025, we’ll be celebrating all the ways and days people bike during National Bike Month,” says national sponsor The League of American Bicyclists. “Whether you’re riding for fun, fitness, or with family, or taking essential trips to work or shop, you are part of our movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet, and happier people.”

This annual event is especially significant in 2025, as Momentum magazine reports that more Americans than ever are riding bikes: 112 million people, or 35 percent of the population aged three and older, cycled at least once last year, marking the highest participation rate since 2014.

“Even more encouraging is the increase in youth ridership,” says the U.S. Bicycle Participation Study from PeopleForBIkes. “After years of declining participation among younger riders, the latest data shows a significant reversal. Since the last study, youth cycling participation (ages 3 to 17) has jumped from 49 percent to 56 percent.”

Parks have a unique opportunity to support this cycling boom by thoughtfully pairing playgrounds with bike paths.

Why Pair Playgrounds with Bike Paths?

The Safe Routes to Parks initiative by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)  says that walking or bicycling to a community park provides double the opportunity for physical activity – on the way to the park and within it!

“Safe walking and biking connections to parks are essential to ensuring everyone can easily access great parks,” says the NRPA.

Pairing playground with bike paths leads to:

• Encourages Active Lifestyles: Integrating bike paths with playgrounds makes it easy for families to combine cycling and play, promoting physical activity for all ages.
• Increases Park Accessibility: Bike paths provide safe, convenient access to playgrounds, especially for families and children who might not live within walking distance.
• Supports Community Health: Combining these amenities encourages outdoor recreation, which can improve mental and physical well-being.
  
  

Key Considerations for Successful Pairing

Here are four key considerations for successfully pairing bike paths with playgrounds:

• Safety First
  o   Design bike paths to be separated from playground areas with clear signage and physical barriers where needed.
  o   Use crosswalks, speed bumps, and visual cues to slow cyclists near play zones, ensuring children’s safety.

• Connectivity
  o   Connect bike paths to major neighborhood routes, schools, and other parks, creating a seamless network for riders of all ages.
  o   Include wayfinding signs to guide cyclists safely to playground entrances.
• Amenities that Support Cyclists
  o   Install bike racks near playgrounds so families can securely park their bikes while they play. May Recreation offers a range of high-quality, durable bike racks as part of our park and playground projects, ensuring both safety and convenience for visitors.
  o   Consider adding water fountains, shade structures, and benches for resting cyclists.
• Inclusive Design
  o   Ensure bike paths are wide enough for adaptive bikes and accessible for riders of all abilities.
  o   Add learning loops or mini tracks near playgrounds to help young children practice biking in a safe environment.
  
  

What are Safe Routes to Parks?

As we said above, safety is the priority in pairing bike paths with playgrounds and parks. The Safe Routes Partnerships says that “safe routes to parks” are approximately ten-minute walks or bike rides to parks that are:

• Accessible via multiple modes of transportation for people of all ages and abilities.
• It is conveniently located within approximately one half mile (10 minute walk) from where people live.
• Safe from traffic and personal danger
• Comfortable and appealing places to walk or bicycle
• End at parks that are well-maintained and programmed
  
  

The Role of Bike Racks

Bike racks are an essential amenity for parks that pair playgrounds with bike paths. Without them, visitors may resort to locking bikes to trees or leaving them unsecured, creating safety hazards and risking theft.

Just as bike riding has increased since the start of the pandemic, bike thefts, sadly, are also on the rise.

“Bike index released its annual 2025 report showing a 15 percent increase in reported thefts off the 1.3 million bikes it registered, and more than two million are stole annually in the U.S. with a value of more than a billion dollars,” reported Bicycle Retailer.

Quality bike racks can help become a deterrent to thefts and encourage people to cycle to the local playground or park. Bike racks can:

• Keep park pathways clear and organized.
• Encourage more people to cycle to the park.
• Protect bikes from damage and theft.
  
  

May Recreation partners with top manufacturers to provide bike racks that fit any park’s needs -- whether you want a simple two-bike loop or a custom design that holds dozens of bikes.

Design Tips for Parks

Thoughtful design is key to successfully pairing playgrounds with bike paths. Here are tips to create vibrant, safe, and inclusive park spaces that maximize both play and cycling opportunities:

• Locate Playgrounds Along Bike Paths: Place playgrounds adjacent to or within sight of bike paths to make them easy to access for cycling families. Use landscaping or barriers to separate fast-moving cyclists from play zones, ensuring safety for all users.
• Plan for Growth: As cycling continues to trend upward, design parks with space for additional bike racks and path expansions.
• Layered Play and Riding Experiences: Integrate “play pockets” or small play features along bike paths to keep children engaged and active as they ride.
• Consider Phased Development: Start with beginner-friendly features like tot tracks and skill loops, then add more advanced elements such as pump tracks or technical trails as the community’s confidence and interest grows.
• Community Engagement: Engage residents in the planning process to ensure the park reflects community needs and preference -- whether that’s more play equipment, fitness stations, or quiet green spaces
• Environmental Integration: Work with the natural landscape, preserving existing trees and views, and using native plants for shade and ecological benefit.
• Wayfinding and Orientation: Provide trail maps at key entry points and feature clear directional signage throughout the park to help users navigate and discover all amenities.
  
  

Celebrating National Bike Month with May Recreation

May Recreation is proud to support healthy, active communities across Houston and East Texas by designing parks that bring together the best of play and cycling. Our projects feature:

• Commercial-grade playground equipment
• Safe, innovative park designs
• Bike racks and other site amenities to enhance every visitor’s experience
  
  

This National Bike Month, let’s work together to create parks where families can ride, play, and connect. By pairing playgrounds with bike paths and providing essential amenities like bike racks, we help ensure everyone can enjoy the outdoors, on two wheels or two feet.

Ready to enhance your park with playgrounds, bike paths, and bike racks? Contact May Recreation to get started on a project that inspires your community to play and ride together.