New pump track draws riders to Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro

The compact course sits behind the playground area and covers about 2,000 square feet.

A new bike pump track at Living Memorial Park is now available for riders, giving children and adults another place to practice biking skills in town.

The compact course sits behind the playground area and covers about 2,000 square feet. Carol Lolatte, director of the Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department, said on Wednesday that the track has already been open for a couple of weeks and is nearly finished, with only some seeding and final adjustments still to come.

The project came together after community members showed interest in having a pump track in Brattleboro, and the department was able to secure grant support to help pay for it. Lolatte said the cost stayed relatively low because the track was built with dirt and ramps rather than more expensive materials.

The Vermont Community Foundation Withington Fund provided a grant, and Bellco Excavating helped with the work, keeping the overall expense manageable, according to Lolatte. Some of the fill removed during construction of the park’s maintenance building was also reused for the new course.

Pump tracks have become a familiar amenity in parks across the United States. They are designed as small, low-maintenance loops that let riders build balance, control and momentum without pedaling, using rollers, berms and rhythm sections.

Rules for the site will soon be posted on a sign. For now, the track is open from dawn to dusk and is unsupervised, so users are being asked to keep the area clean and act responsibly around others.

Helmets are required, and motorized devices such as e-bikes and scooters are not allowed. Spectators are also expected to remain off the track.