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Pedaling Toward Recovery: Talent and Phoenix Win Travel Oregon Competitive Program Award for Wine Country Biking Routes

  • Mar 17
  • 3 min read

The Talent Business Alliance has been selected for Travel Oregon’s competitive Recreation Ready Program, bringing expert planning support and up to $100,000 in funding within reach for a cycling network designed to rebuild the region’s economy and spirit.



Five years ago, the communities of Talent and Phoenix, Oregon watched the Almeda Fire tear through their neighborhoods, destroying more than 2,500 homes and 198 businesses in what became the largest urban fire in Oregon’s recorded history. Today, those same communities are charting a new path forward, one measured not in losses, but in miles of scenic biking routes connecting vineyards, local farms, and families to one of the most beautiful landscapes in the state. 


Travel Oregon has selected the Talent Business Alliance (TBA) for admission into Phase 1 of its 2025-2029 Recreation Ready Program. The Wine Country Biking Routes project was chosen from a competitive statewide field, and places Talent and Phoenix among a select  group of communities receiving expert technical guidance and access to up to $100,000 in Phase 2 funding.


What Is the Recreation Ready Program?


Travel Oregon’s Recreation Ready Program pairs communities with expert consultants and Travel Oregon technical staff to transform early-stage recreation concepts into strategic, implementation-ready projects. Built around a nine-month planning phase,  and followed by a 16-month funded project execution period, the program weaves accessibility into every step, ensuring the resulting infrastructure welcomes people of all abilities. Admission in this program is competitive, with applicants evaluated on mission alignment, community support, planning need, and the strength of their steering committee.


“This program will help transform the vision for Wine Country Biking Routes into a reality, one that supports economic recovery, celebrates our region’s unique character, and creates lasting outdoor recreation infrastructure for residents and visitors.” – Darby Ayers-Flood, Executive Director, Talent Business Alliance


A Vision Rooted in Community


The Wine Country Biking Routes project is featured in the 2024 Destination Development Strategic Plan, shaped by extensive community engagement involving artists, farmers, business owners, and recreation advocates. Authored by Cecelia Bagnoli, former Destination Development Coordinator for TBA, that plan laid the foundation that made this award possible.


The project connects the 20-mile Bear Creek Greenway with the wineries, tasting rooms, farm stands, orchards, restaurants, and arts venues that define the Rogue Valley’s character through Talent and Phoenix. Route options will range from 5 to 50 miles, welcoming everyone from families on a Sunday afternoon ride to experienced cyclists touring Mediterranean climate wine country. Drawing inspiration from Hood River’s beloved “Fruit Loop,” Talent and Phoenix are well positioned to become Southern Oregon’s answer to that well-loved model.


“Being selected for the Travel Oregon Recreation Ready Program is a highly competitive and meaningful step forward for the communities of Talent and Phoenix.” — Bob Hackett, Executive Director, Travel Southern Oregon


Accessibility at the Center


The project’s accessibility vision includes infrastructure supporting adaptive bikes and handcycles, e-bike charging stations, and ADA-compliant design at trailheads and access points throughout the network. This commitment to universal design reflects the community’s belief that recovery must be recovery for all, and that a destination welcoming people of all abilities is a stronger destination for everyone.


A Strong Coalition Behind the Project


TBA’s collaborating partners on this project are the City of Talent, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and Travel Southern Oregon. 


The project steering committee brings together Steve Lambert, Roads and Parks Director for Jackson County; Alex Campbell, City Manager of the City of Talent; Bob Hackett, Executive Director of Travel Southern Oregon; Will Volpert, President of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce; Warren Kahn, Board Member of Siskiyou Velo; and Darby Ayers-Flood, Executive Director of the Talent Business Alliance. 


What Happens Next


Beginning in April 2026, TBA and the steering committee will work alongside Travel Oregon to conduct site visits, community surveys, and an accessibility focus group, culminating in a recommended action plan and budget for Phase 2. If successful, the project could be eligible to  access up to $100,000 to support feasibility studies, infrastructure design, environmental assessments, and construction.


The Wine Country Biking Routes project represents more than a recreational amenity. It is a statement of resilience, a declaration that these communities are not defined by what they lost, but by what they are determined to build.


Learn More about Travel Oregon's Recreation Ready's Awarded Projects: https://industry.traveloregon.com/programs/recreation-ready-program/recreation-ready-past-awards/





 
 
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