Local resident suggests pump track for new park

The Gatesville Messenger
By Jeff Osborne Senior writer & editor
February 9, 2023

When Lauren Morrell of Gatesville heard that a new city park is planned near the fitness center, one of the ideas that came to mind is the possibility of including a state-of-the-art pump track for bicycles.

While many may not even have heard of a pump track, Morrell said including such a facility at the new Gatesville park would not only be beneficial to local residents, but could also serve as a feature attraction for visitors from outside the area.

"It's something for your consideration," Morrell told the Gatesville City Council during its Jan. 24 meeting. "The closest ones in Texas are in the San Antonio area. A benefit is that people will come from different areas like Waco or Dallas for this type of feature. Something like this would actually bring a lot of people into the community. They are very rare but very popular. It goes well with a walking track."

Morell said her husband is a cycling enthusiast, so their family has made special trips to enjoy the amenities of pump tracks.

A pump track is defined as "a looped sequence of rollers and berms — swoopy, banked turns — for bike riders. It's designed to maximize your momentum, so you can ride it with minimal pedaling," according to Parkitect.ch

The Parkitect website says this about pump tracks: "Besides being an innovative play park amenity trending in more and more public spaces, a pump track is a track for wheeled sports equipment that, when ridden properly, does not require pedaling or pushing, but a 'pumping' action to maintain momentum."

As for the cost, Morrell said, "They can be built for $250,000 and up. The one in Bentonville, Arkansas is 9,000 square feet and cost $350,000."

Because the suggestion by Morrell was part of the visitor's forum, the Council took no action and had no discussion on the topic during the meeting.