The Town is excited to announce that plans to construct a pump track at Bill Robertson Park (formerly Riverside Community Park), 1400 North Railway Street, are underway! This popular park, home of the Town’s inclusive playground and various sports amenities, is along the primary pathway system which connects all neighbourhoods throughout Okotoks.
Cycling is a vast sport of varying disciplines including mountain biking, road biking, BMX, leisure, etc. A diversity of cycling infrastructure in the community is desired; building a pump track, an amenity not currently offered in the community, will help enrich the Town’s cycling infrastructure.
This pump track will provide beginner to intermediate cycling recreation to those not yet at the level of utilizing the BMX track. A pump track is a designed track of rolling topography where the pumping motion used by the rider’s upper and lower body creates the momentum needed to propel the cyclists through the course.
The pump track will provide free, unprogrammed leisure cycling opportunities as well as increase sport opportunities for siblings/family members that attend sporting events at the same site (e.g. soccer games, beach volleyball, baseball, etc.).
The pump track, which will be open year-round when clear of snow and ice, will be paved to reduce maintenance costs, increase seasonal availability and improve safety. Providing a pump track may also decrease pressures on un-authorized bike skills tracks occurring in the river valley and natural areas.
The Town will be hosting an in-park project information session on April 9 from 1-2 where residents can provide input on design elements of the track. We look forward to seeing you there! An online survey will also be available from April 9-22 to capture resident feedback.
Construction of the pump track is expected to begin this summer and be complete for the 2023 season. For project updates and to take the survey, visit www.okotoks.ca/pump-track.