Planning work is continuing on a proposed pump track for Rocky Mountain House.

After discussions with Rocky town council last month, a member of the Rocky Mountain Bike Park Society went before Clearwater County council this week to answer questions from Clearwater council members.

A pump track is described as a BMX and mountain bike style track. Grant Anderson, Vice President of the Rocky Mountain Bike Park Society, said it can also be used with scooters, skateboards, rollerblades and almost anything you can ride with wheels.

He also mentioned how there are plenty of pump tracks off Highway 14 and how there is even one in Drayton Valley which was installed in October 2020, and is the largest in Canada. Anderson said the tracks off the highway are smaller than what would be installed in Rocky Mountain House. Anderson further noted that with the location being near the skate park, spray park, arenas and schools, there would be plenty of people who could utilize it, as well as good highway exposure for tourists driving by.

In addition, Anderson addressed the biggest concern, parking around the proposed amenity. “There is lots of parking depending on the season with the community centre not always being used during the week. There is also parking by the museum that’s not always being used and parking at the school,” said Anderson.

Another concern the County had was getting emergency vehicles such as ambulances down to the pump track in case of injuries or other problems. Anderson addressed this by stating, there is a bike path near the pump track that has a gate which is right near the dog park. He also noted this would get them a lot closer to the pump track and would be easy to access.

Anderson addressed the potential cost of the pump track by saying, “We haven’t put out the complete design build yet, but with the direction we would like to be, would cost between $300,000-$400,000. But we’ve had a community business that would like to help and donate equipment, dirt and gravel which is the largest cost concern.”

Clearwater council put a motion forward that they would like more information, as well as progress updates on the pump track.