Action Sport Dreams Becoming Reality: Rotary Club Bike Pump Track Getting "Shovel-Ready"

Rendering of Brownsville pump track from Alliance ASE. Del Rio pump track plans will mimic the Brownsville track.

The push for a Bike Pump Track in Del Rio has been ongoing for years, and now the project is finally on the cusp of construction. The City Council approved land use for the pump track a few months ago, it will be located between the Skate Garden and the Joe Ramos parking lot. The basketball court there will disappear, but other outdoor basketball courts around the city will be improved and resurfaced to compensate. Site surveys for the pump track are about to begin, moving the project one giant leap closer to the finish line.

Since receiving unanimous council approval, the Rotary Club, Del Rio Parks Foundation, and other stakeholders have taken swift action. Soil sampling and topographical site surveys will start late March or early April, according to the project manager, Jake Carsten. 5 soil core samples will be drilled into the ground around the existing basketball court, to help with planning the future track’s footprint.

Local bike track expert, and active Del Rio Parks Foundation board member, Jake Carsten also represents the international design-build firm Alliance Action Sports Experts (Alliance ASE). He said the surveys shouldn’t take long, “it’s a couple weeks turn around for most companies usually.”

Carsten explained that they need to have a “shovel-ready” project to apply for grants, that “the community needs to show commitment and make an investment before external funding can be sourced.” However, the design process should not cause a significant delay. They plan to build off of the successful model in Brownsville, Texas, that is currently under construction. Alliance ASE will adapt the Brownsville project uniquely to Del Rio, rather than starting from scratch, to save time and budget.

Another rendering of Brownsville track which is similar to Del Rio pump track plans.

Generous in-kind donations of engineering, soil sampling, and design services from local businesses have resulted in nearly $15,000 cost savings. Carsten valued each donated service between $4,000 and $5,000. The Del Rio Rotary Club bolstered these efforts through individual donations and community fundraising. This collaborative effort, utilizing local expertise from firms like Carrillo & Associates and Amistad Consulting Services, alongside the international design experience of Alliance ASE, positions the Pump Track project for success.

Rotary has defined the pump track project as, “a specially designed track for cyclists of all ages and skill levels to build momentum using the natural terrain—no pedaling required!” During his council presentation in January, Rotary Club’s Abram Rodriguez said, “placing this project near existing amenities like the skate park and amphitheater changes the overall appeal of the area as a hub for family-friendly outdoor activity.”

To ensure the recreational track's stability, crucial geotechnical testing by Carrillo & Associates, a San Antonio firm with a local Del Rio tester, will analyze native soils and guide subgrade preparation. Carsten said soil sampling is “essential for determining necessary subgrade stabilization to prevent foundation cracking.” Amistad Consulting Services, led by Abner Martinez, will conduct a detailed site survey, mapping existing structures and topography for input into the track's CAD design.

Proposed pump track location, survey zoning map provided by Jake Carsten.

Pump track design team Alliance ASE is based in Austria but have a franchise in Texas. They have designed and built over 200 pump tracks in Europe. This year alone they will build another 40 or 50 skate parks, snow ramp parks, bike ramp parks, and mountain bike trails across the world. Jake Carsten is the USA representative for Alliance ASE. He will manage the project, coordinate design and construction, and ensure the track's successful integration into Del Rio's landscape. He donated his portion of the design service fees, and Rotary Club is covering the rest.

With funding for surveys, designs, and renderings already secured, project organizers are now focusing on securing grant funding to cover construction costs. Carsten said, “we are talking about half a million dollars, way beyond fundraising, we will focus on grant writing.” The construction timeline is dependent on how quickly the Rotary Club can raise funds, but an extensive grant writing process will begin as soon as designs are complete… and designs can start as soon as surveys are complete. Carsten expects they could be ready for a “design contract within a month.”

Rotary Club’s Cheryl Simmons commented, “Del Rio Rotary parks go back to the flood of 1998, the city gave Rotary the land by the Casa de la Cultura, and in return the Rotary said that we would do $500 in maintenance each year to this park. Rotary is focused on what is best for the community a pump track allows families to enjoy the outdoors with each other and a way for the kids to get out and away from computers and phones.”