Pump Track Project Ideas for Local Governments
Local government have a new challenge of creating public space that go beyond just a great looking master plan. The modern park and community sports facilities need to be able to service children, teenagers, families, casual users and clubs all whilst being able to be managed after the official opening day. So it makes sense that a pump track for local government projects are thought of within the wider context of the recreation strategy and not just as a single riding trail.
A modular pump track is a great addition to public parks, school grounds, community centers, youth activity areas, campsites, sports parks and temporary event spaces. All types of riders such as mountain bikers, kids on bikes, BMX, skateboarders and inline skaters will love a defined area to ride. The high quality anti-slip, high-grip surface is designed for outdoors and is a cost effective alternative for councils and others wanting year round activity, without the high cost of fixed concrete or asphalt.
Why Should Local Governments Plan a Pump Track With Other Facilities?
When planning a pump track for municipal purposes it is better to think about how people already move through the park and how you can link the pump track up with that. People come to the park to ride the pump track but families with children will stay longer in the park if there are seats, some shade, toilets, a play area and clear paths for them to walk along.
A Facility for More Than One User Group
A public park pump track can serve several user groups in one area of a park. Young children are able to use the space on balance bikes. School aged children are able to use scooters after school. Teenagers can use BMX or skateboards in the pump track. Parents and caregivers of children using the pump track area can sit and watch from a nearby seating area or participate in the physical activity with their children.
A community pump track project can turn under used land into an activity zone that can be seen from the street. A good location for a community pump track would be on the edge of a sports park, in a corner of a playground, on an unused grassed area near a leisure center or on a paved area near a youth hub.
This mixed use increases the value of the project. A single basketball court has its main user group on the court. A playground for younger children in a local park is mainly used by children of that age. A pump track can fill the space of active recreation for children of an age where they have moved on from slides but are not yet affiliated with sports clubs in general and are part of no specific sports club in particular. This space is largely lacking in local parks.
Can Pump Tracks Be Combined With Skateparks and Wheeled Sports Zones?
Councils naturally pair up Pump Track design with Skatepark design as both serve wheeled sports. However both do not function in the exact same manner & this difference between the two activities is perfect to spread out the riders to various different activity styles.
Pump Track Plus Skatepark
Typical skateparks consist of features such as bowls, ramps, ledges and a variety of other items to perform tricks on, as well as for technical practice. In contrast pump tracks are designed to provide a flow based ride, with features including berms, rollers and other items to ride over. A key aspect of pump tracks is that instead of pedaling hard to go faster, riders instead increase their speed by moving their body weight.
A well-planned Skatepark can cater for the trick-oriented riders while a well-designed Pump Track can focus on providing a facility that encourages continuous movement. This enables the younger/ less-experienced rider to remain active on the facility without feeling pressured to learn complex tricks. Meanwhile the more experienced/ confident rider can use the facility as a warm-up area, a formalized training loop or as a flow section that they can ride as fast as possible.
Pump Track Plus Scooter and BMX Area
A wheeled sports facility would provide a safer playing area for scooter and BMX riders within local parks, taking pressure off footpaths, car park surfaces and plaza edges where currently riders have no designated area to play.
Buffer spaces around high activity areas such as turns and ramps of 2 meters or so will increase comfort. When a skatepark is provided it is wise to create a separate beginning loop to view other skate boarders from and for them to view you from as they stop frequently in the skatepark and you will when you are beginning as well.
How Can Pump Tracks Support Bike Skills and Active Travel?
A pump track with a bike skills area can support public health, school work, and active travel goals. The area will provide a safe environment for people of all skill levels to practice their bike control in a fun environment before hitting the shared paths, cycle lanes and local streets.
Pump Track Plus Bike Skills Area
A bike skills area might consist of low ramps, cornering sections, balance zones, braking exercises and simple features to ride over. The pump track then is the next step in which the biker learns to ride with constant speed, to look ahead, to choose the best line, to balance his body in a proper way to get the most out of his bike.
A gradient can provide an exciting challenge for kids transitioning from balance bikes to pedal bikes and also for teenagers looking for a workout. Council projects can use the same signage, seating and path access for both areas.
Pump Track Plus Active Travel Route
The active travel connection to a pump track will work best where there are existing cycling paths, walking loops or school travel routes from nearby parks. This then becomes a destination along an existing route rather than an isolated park.
An example council linking a modular pump track to
| Public route or facility | How the pump track adds value |
| School cycling route | Gives children a safe place to practice before riding further |
| Park loop path | Adds an active stop for families and young riders |
| Greenway or trail | Turns a pass-through route into a recreation point |
| Leisure center path | Extends activity outdoors without a full building project |
This plan allows for all season use of the track rather than just weekends.
Should Pump Tracks Be Planned With Playgrounds?
A new park facility with a pump track and playground will be a family-friendly park because it caters to different ages with different energy levels. Young children will still have a playground to play on, but older kids and teenagers will have reason to stay in the same park with a pump track.
Younger Children, Older Children, and Parents
A lot of public parks start to lose users around the age of 9, 10 or 11 years old. As kids get older, traditional play equipment just gets too small. Formal sports fields can mean kids need to play as a team, book in advance or turn up at a set time. A pump track is a free activity that kids can turn up and play at anytime.
For parents also there are benefits. A family with two children of different ages can spend longer time in one and the same park. One of them can be playing in the playground while the other one is riding a track. Because there are seating areas between the playground and the track above the floor of the park, children can be supervised more easily.
Shared Park Amenities
A successful mix of pump track and playground requires thoughtful planning of support zones and features. When designing, ensure that fast riding toddlers are not sent careening through the toddler zone. Design a distinct entry and clearly define the direction of travel for the pump track. Also, leave sufficient space between the two defined zones.
Good shared amenity’s for park users are: drinking fountains; seats; shade; bins; bike racks; safe surface pedestrian courses suitable for use with pushchairs. These non decorative features will determine whether facilities have use for ‘normal’ family use on a day to day basis.
Can a Pump Track Become Part of a Youth Activity Park?
Pump tracks for youth activity parks – active lifestyles for young people. A pump track and youth activity park could be a very attractive option for Councils wishing to promote active lifestyles in young people. The youth activity park could be sited adjacent to a skate zone, parkour area, full size or half size ball court, outdoor gym or simple meeting area.
A Stronger Offer for Teenagers
Many teenagers need places to be active in public spaces that are dynamic but not too regulated. A youth activity park can be a mix of activities such as riding, skateboarding, climbing, basketball, football and socializing.
A modular pump track is an ideal facility for this type of setup as it can be ridden by a wide range of skill levels, with beginners able to complete the course at a slow pace, more confident riders able to carry speed and work on their bike handling skills within the track. After school, at weekends, for youth club, for small community events – the one track can be used for all.
Planning for Visibility and Safety
Youth activity spaces in the park should be visible from along the park paths and from the car park and nearby community buildings so that they are easy to see and so that they are less likely to be subject to misuse. Families should feel safe when using the youth activity spaces.
Other factors that need to be considered are lighting, seating and rules. For busy sites, Councils may designate different areas for absolute beginners and more advanced riders to avoid the new rider being intimidated by faster users on the site.
How Can Pump Tracks Work With Outdoor Fitness Areas and Sports Courts?
A pump track with an outdoor fitness area turns a park into a hub for community outdoor recreation. Fitness equipment can be used by adults whilst children play on the track nearby. Teenagers will use the area as a whole, moving between the pump track, basketball court and large open space.
Pump Track Plus Outdoor Gym
Most outdoor gyms attract adults and don’t cater for younger users. A pump track adds movement, energy and social use to the same space and as a result creates a stronger multi-age space.
One option for the simple design would be to have the track on one side, stations for the outdoor gym on the opposite side and a sitting area in the middle of both. This keeps the active areas connected but reduces the number of crossings by users.
Pump Track Plus Sports Courts
Sports courts enable organized as well as semi-organized sports on the court. Pump tracks enable drop-in use of the track. In general, adding sports courts to a park makes it less dependent on one single sport.
This combination is best for sports parks that already have a football field, pickleball courts, running track or basketball courts. The pump track is a wheeled sports facility that does not require a building or staffed program.
Can Pump Tracks Help Green Space and Park Upgrade Projects?
Underused parks with open spaces can become more active without losing their character using a modular pump track for parks that has been carefully planned and scaled.
Pump Track Plus Green Space Upgrade
Pump tracks can be situated on the edge of green space, off an existing path or near a sports area. This leaves the interior of the park open for free play, picnics and other landscape uses.
A running track can also help to make use of ‘left-over’ areas too small for a full-sized sports area. Many local parks contain ‘dead’ spaces around larger playing fields which are of no use for casual recreation. Suitable ground treatment and provision of a suitable access route and end can make full use of such areas.
Landscape Details That Matter
A pump track should not be left ‘in the middle of a park’ and need signposting for context. It needs planting, seating, fencing, adequate drainage and use of paths.
For these temporary landscapes low planting around the rest areas and trees set back from the center of the riding lines can create the impression of a designed system rather than a temporary one. Where appropriate, permeable edges and natural formed spectator banks can also add to the feel of a planned permanent circuit while the system is still in a modular phase.
Are Schools and Community Centers Good Partners for Pump Track Projects?
Pump track for schools and community centers – a practical direction for councils who wish to forge stronger links between physical recreation, education and local programs and projects. Such sites currently have regular daily users, have staff on site and have gained community trust.
Pump Track Plus School Outdoor Activity Area
Pump tracks can be an ideal tool for schools. They can provide bike confidence and balance exercises as well as material for PE lessons, after school clubs and road safety work. The pump track does not have to be big. For younger pupils a small beginner track is often sufficient.
A modular design would allow us to change up the configuration to best utilize the available space. This would also enable us to deliver the system as a phased development allowing the school or council to commence with a small number of modules and then add more over time as funding becomes available.
Pump Track Plus Community Center
Many community centers run youth clubs, holiday programs, family days and other local events and activities. A pump track is a great outdoor activity for many of these programs as they don’t require a full team of players, a coach or even a fixed match time.
The portable system also supports short term events such as Community festivals, Sports open days, Pop-up riding sessions and promotional activities. This would be useful for the councils to test demand before committing to longer term change to public space.
Which Project Combinations Fit Different Local Government Goals?
Different councils will have different priorities. Some parks need to provide safer areas for teenagers, some need a face lift of an under utilized park. Others need to improve the active travel network into and through the area and finally some would like a low maintenance provision in an existing sports hub.
| Local government goal | Best pump track combination |
| More activities for teenagers | Youth activity park, skatepark, parkour area |
| Family-friendly park upgrade | Playground, picnic area, seating, toilets |
| Cycling confidence | Bike skills area, school route, active travel path |
| Wider sports offer | Outdoor gym, ball courts, leisure center |
| Public space activation | Green space upgrade, plaza, event area |
| Tourism or events | Sports park, campground, portable event setup |
Ultimately the best choice will depend on the site, users and budget. A small council with limited resources might start with a small compact modular pump track with seating. A large city park could incorporate a pump track within a larger skatepark, or include the track as part of a beginner bike loop, outdoor fitness zone and event space.
About ULTRAPUMPTRACK as a Modular Pump Track Supplier
ULTRAPUMPTRACK designs modular Pump Tracks for installation in Parks, Schools, Community Centres, Sports Parks, Special Events and Commercial Recreational Facilities. Our company background is in cycling and building of Pump Tracks made of dirt and also asphalt surfaces. We have more recently moved into manufacturing and supplying high quality modular made plastic Pump Track surfaces.
Modular Pump Tracks are ideal for bikes, scooters, BMX riders, skateboarders and other wheeled sports users. Made from durable outdoor materials with weather resistance, anti-aging additives, textured anti-slip surface. A variety of configurations to suit a number of sites, user abilities and budgets.
As local government and project planners consider the options for the temporary skating rink, the Skate on 3 system would be suitable for permanent public park development, phased park recreation development or as a temporary event use development. The modular system allows for planning around existing developed space and allows for development in stages to reduce overall construction time. Additional sections can be added as demand dictates.
Conclusion
A pump track project for local government is not a freestanding park object. Its greatest value is in how it integrates with other public facilities such as skateparks, playgrounds, bike skills areas, active travel routes, outdoor gyms and schools, community centers and youth activity parks. By servicing more users and delivering greater purpose to public space on a daily basis, a pump track integrated with other public facilities enhances overall value of the project.
For councils the most effective strategy starts with a real look at how a site will be used – who will be riding, who will be watching and how will families enter the space. What other facilities are nearby and can share paths, seating, lighting and other overheads such as maintenance. And so a modular pump track can be an effective component of a well rounded outdoor recreation strategy that is utilized frequently.
FAQs
What projects can local governments combine with a pump track?
A pump track can be developed in conjunction with other facilities such as skateparks, playgrounds, bike skills areas, active travel routes, outdoor fitness zones, youth activity parks, schools, community centers and sports parks. The optimal mix will depend upon the major user, site size and budget as well as other facilities in the area.
Is a modular pump track suitable for public parks?
Yes. Modular pump tracks are suitable for public parks and park upgrades, where councils are looking for a low-maintenance wheeled sports facility. They can work on a wide range of sites and cater for bikes, scooters, BMX, skateboards and inline skaters.
Can a pump track be built next to a playground?
When building a pump track near a playground it is essential that the design allows for the fast riding lines to be separate from the play areas for young children. This includes clear lines and paths, seating, signs, safe buffers and open sightlines for parents/carers.
How can councils choose the right pump track layout?
Factors that Councils should take into account when selecting a site for a Pump Track are: Available space, anticipated age and skill of riders, proximity to other facilities, access routes, drainage, visibility and room for future development. For projects that are to be rolled out in phases a modular pump track can be set up in a compact configuration to begin with to allow for growth as demand increases.
