RUMFORD — Selectmen took a first look Thursday night at a plan to develop a dirt bike park at the rear of the highway garage Thursday night.

The proposal, first suggested by former Selectman Jim Rinaldo who now serves part-time to try to develop the town’s economy, would use a portion of about 80 acres of town land.

The board had authorized Brian Alexander, owner of Red Oak Enterprises in Rome, to come up with some possibilities. He was paid $1,500 for the work.

As proposed, a 3-mile trail could be developed on a portion of the land, he said. Although the parcel has no special areas or ponds, as identified by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Anderson said much of the central portion is very wet. But the trail, he said, would be friendly to dirt bikers.

It would be challenging, he said, and most likely draw dirt bikers to the site.

He said nine areas would need some type of bridging, with treated wood, stones or sand piles.

He told the board minimal maintenance would be needed and the narrow, single-track path could also be used by hikers.

Anderson also proposed the development of a pump track within the park that would provide a variety of ramps, jumps and other challenging venues for biker use.

Many of the materials needed for such a track are already on the property, including old granite curbing, crushed pavement and gravel.

Town Manager Carlo Puiia said money is available in the town’s economic development account to build the 3-mile trail. The pump track would cost another $5,000, Anderson said. The trail itself was estimated to cost around $20,000.

Entrance to the dirt bike park would be from the adjacent River Valley Crossing Mall.

Selectmen want comments from residents on the proposed project and will set a public hearing on the issue in the next few weeks.

Rinaldo said he also sees a lot of potential in the park.

“If this gets a lot of use, I’m thinking of a three-to-five year project that would hook up with Black Mountain,” he said.

Bikers could then take the ski lift up the mountain, the use a specifically designated trail to come down.

If the town decides to go ahead with the development of the dirt bike park, work would take place this summer.