Alliance to add Stark County's first pump track
ALLIANCE − A pump track for bike riders is under construction at Memorial Park.
The park is the first of its kind in Stark County.
The complex − a system of rollers and banks − neighbors the Sean Scott Memorial Rotary Skate Park. Park officials anticipate the project could be done by mid-summer.
More:Alliance Parks to rename skate park for beloved skater Sean Scott
The contractor PumpTrax USA, a Cleveland-based firm, has halted work for the winter. The same company has built other pump tracks in northern Ohio and in other states.
Kim Cox, director of Alliance Parks and Recreation, said the complex came out of discussions regarding skatepark renovations − also set to be completed by the summer. Cox said the pump track will be a "great addition."
The complex will have two tracks − one for novices and one for advanced riders. It will be ideal for BMX bikes, mountain bikes, scooters, skateboards and even wheelchairs. Officials said anything with wheels would work.
The nearest pump tracks are in Akron, Cleveland and Lisbon.
"We're really hoping with this expansion we are welcoming and serving a wider variety of visitors," said Niki McIlvain, communication specialist for the city's parks. "It also will be handicap accessible."
Additionally, park officials said the new tracks should relieve some of the stress put on the skatepark equipment by bikes.
Cox said she expects the new addition will be popular and said it should "provide an opportunity to people in the area to host bike and skateboarding tournaments."
Cox said she expects the new addition will be popular and it should, "provide an opportunity to people in the area to host bike and skateboarding tournaments."
More:Alliance Parks officials praise agencies, residents
Pump track had 'immediate impact' in Sandusky
That's what happened in Sandusky, which also partnered with PumpTrax to build a pump track in 2019. The city hosted a competition last year.
"The opening of the pump track had an immediate impact to our skate park area with all types of users using both the pump track and skate park," said Jason Werling, recreation supervisor for the city of Sandusky. "We saw more than double of skateboarders, BMX riders and scooter riders using the facility."
Werling added: "Kids of all ages, and a few adults, use the pump track and probably would not have visited the skate park if the pump track wasn't there."
Alliance's financing involves donations
The cost of the overall project, including the skatepark renovations, is about $350,000. Most of it will be funded by a $250,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
In addition to the state grant, McIlwain said the Greater Alliance Foundation, Alliance Friends of the Parks and Morgan Engineering have contributed funds.
"The developer is collaborating with the city of Alliance to utilize our own team and materials where appropriate, allowing nearly 50% of the anticipated costs to be gift-in-kind," she said in an email.
Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. Follow on Twitter @bduerREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance's Memorial Park to get a pump track for bike riders
