THE LAB BLOG

Attention Bloggers
This portion of the website has been designed with you in mind. We will be hositng a weblog for those who want to speak informally about the Civic Innovation Lab and other civic projects in the Cleveland community. Please check back often to see new blogs about what's happening in Cleveland.

PLEASE NOTE: 

In order to post a blog you must submit content with:

1) Title
2) Poster-Poster Name
3) Content
4) Any photo that may accompany the content

Please submit this information to info@civicinnovationlab.org for consideration.

July 30, 2008

OUR FIRST BLOG!

Ray’s Mountain Bike Park

Jump into Ray’s Mountain Bike Park, where the once wasted and empty industrial space has been transformed into an intense mountain bike course where lovers of the sport and newcomers can finally channel their interest and talent into the world’s first and only indoor park. The growing company was backed by the Civic Innovation Lab, who funded Ray with $30,000 to create an infrastructure to capture adventure sports as an economic driver. Ray, like others who have been supported by the Lab, has had a banner year in its efforts to help boost Cleveland’s economy. The bike park brought in 7,000 riders through the doors last year. Approximately 80% of these riders were from surrounding states, showing the park’s large-scale attraction and an idea that is truly vitalizing an undeveloped market. Ray’s filled 800 rooms at the Cleveland Airport Holiday Inn Hotel, a 74% increase over last season’s room nights. The world has begun to readily acknowledge this fun and adventurous sports arena and Ray is constantly getting calls from all around the world to replicate the park. Two to six-minute stories are set to air world-wide on the Discovery Channel and  will certainly launch not only Ray’s park into the mainstream but also provide the world with a new and alternate glimpse of Cleveland. Ray has successfully tapped into an innovative activity that you should check out at www.raysmtb.com.