City to work with Velosolutions on bike pump track for Centennial Park

A pump track is a little bit closer to becoming a reality in Revelstoke. 

Revelstoke city council has given the go ahead for city staff the enter into a contract with Velosolutions to design and build a pump track at Centennial Park. 

In a brief overview of the project to council at its regular meeting on January 23, city parks and recreation director Laurie Donato said Velosolutions is considered the leader in pump track design. 

A pump track is a circuit of banked turns and includes rollers and other features that can be ridden on a bike without pedalling.

City staff and the Revelstoke Cycling Association, who are assisting with the project, are proposing to have the track built to meet the Union of Cyclists International standards. The designation would provide the opportunity for Revelstoke to be included in the competitive qualifying circuit for pump track racing.

“[Velosolutions is] the only pump track builder that can build a pump track that’s designed to [Union of Cyclists International] standards. Once you have that pump track built to those standards it provides the city with the opportunity to be included in the competitive circuit for pump track racing, which would be a great opportunity for the community,” said Donato.

Council also approved a request for an exemption from the purchase and tendering policy, and for authorization of pre-budget approval of $750,000. Just over $700,00 will go to Velosolutions to design and construct the track.  

The city’s purchasing and tendering policy allows an exception for a call to tender, with approval from council, when there is only one qualified supplier who can provide the service. 

Velosolutions is also building similar pump track projects in Sicamous, Vernon and Kamloops. At its regular meeting on January 18, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board of directors approved $250,000 in funding from the Sicamous and Area E economic opportunity fund for the construction of a pump track at Finlayson Park.

At the Revelstoke meeting, city councillor Matt Cherry asked if staff had ensured the pump track built in Revelstoke would be different from those in other communities. Donato responded by stating Revelstoke’s pump track would be unique.

Funding for the track is accounted for in the draft 2024 long term financial plan. In it’s report to council, city staff noted that external funding is also being sought, and that the project will not move forward until funding is secured. Currently, the estimated construction start date is Spring 2025. 

The pump track project was identified as a high priority in both the 2011 and 2022 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.