PUMP TRACK DESIGN COMPLETED FOR FELTON COVERED BRIDGE COUNTY PARK
SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. – Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit trail stewardship organization, today announced that it has completed the design phase of the new Felton Pump Track with Santa Cruz County Parks (County Parks or “the County”). The local nonprofit will now begin fundraising and development to construct the new track, which will consist of a closed circuit of berms, rollers, and turns at Felton’s Covered Bridge County Park. This progress builds on the project’s unanimous approval by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors last December to go into a partnership with the County Parks Department for fundraising and construction of this new park amenity. The Felton Pump Track will bring new safe and fun outdoor recreation to cyclists, skateboarders, and roller skaters of all ages and abilities and fill a need for easily-accessible, skill-building outdoor recreation in the San Lorenzo Valley.
Before track construction can begin, SCMTS needs to raise the $550,000 anticipated to cover materials and labor required to build the track and its robust stormwater management system. SCMTS is actively pursuing sponsorships, grants, and individual donations to support track development. Interested parties may make a tax-deductible donation to support the project here. All contributions made before the end of the year will be matched thanks to a generous donor, effectively doubling the progress towards SCMTS’ fundraising goal.
“As a Felton resident, I’m absolutely thrilled to see this project move forward,” said Matt De Young, Executive Director of Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship. “Pump tracks across the region inspire thousands of families to play outside together and build their skills in a welcoming environment each year. I’m excited to bring a new track to Downtown Felton so that my neighborhood has a place to come together and grow stronger through a shared love of outdoor fun.”
Community feedback was incorporated into final designs to create a track that celebrates the beauty of Felton’s Covered Bridge County Park and minimizes neighborhood impacts. The Felton Pump Track footprint will be 10,000 square feet (similar to Chanticleer Pump Track’s footprint), and have a roughly 5,000 square-foot asphalt surface that requires minimal maintenance and is suitable for bikes, scooters, skateboards, and roller skates. The track will replace the underutilized volleyball court at Felton’s Covered Bridge County Park, and portions will be sunken into the ground to preserve views of the historic covered bridge. Native landscaping will surround the track to reduce water requirements and replace existing turf in the area, and a robust stormwater retention system will minimize flooding and contain any track runoff onsite.
Similar pump tracks throughout the City of Santa Cruz are hotspots for families with young children, and SCMTS expects the same for the upcoming Felton Pump Track. The organization’s goal is that the Felton Pump Track will bring a new generation of users into Felton’s Covered Bridge County Park and spark deep love and long-term care for park resources.
“SCMTS is a local non-profit that has supported outdoor access for years, and they are expert pump track builders, too! We feel lucky to have them by our side as we bring new outdoor recreation to downtown Felton,” said Rebecca Hurley of Santa Cruz County Parks. “There’s magic in a day spent outside, and it’s through new resources like this pump track that more residents of the San Lorenzo Valley can enjoy the beauty, adventure, and fun of our local park resources.”
Once all funding is secured, SCMTS anticipates a 12-week construction timeline to build the track. Following construction, SCMTS will gift the pump track to Santa Cruz County Parks for a formal opening and ongoing management. SCMTS will also host ongoing volunteer events to involve interested community members in the pump track’s construction and maintenance. Events will be open to the public, free to enjoy, and suitable for all ages and abilities. Interested parties can hear about upcoming events first by subscribing to the organization’s biweekly newsletter.
Making a donation via SCMTS’ Felton Pump Track webpage is the best way for members of the public to support pump track development today.
For more information: Click here or email Katy Peterson at [email protected]
