Rotary Club Presents Pump Track Proposal to City Council

Rotary Club President Abram Rodriguez and Jake Carsten of the Del Rio Parks Foundation present their pump track proposal to Council.

Rotary Club President Abram Rodriguez and Del Rio Parks Foundation Trails Committee Lead Jake Carsten presented their proposal for the Rotary Club Pump Track to Council Members during the January 14, 2025 City Council Meeting. 

“We’re here to request your approval to begin planning, fundraising and preparing for the installation of a biking area at the public park next to the Joe Ramos Center,” Rodriguez began. “The bike area will provide children and families with a safe, fun, and accessible space to learn and enjoy biking.” “It encourages physical activity, supports outdoor recreation and offers alternatives to screen time, a priority for many parents.”

“Additionally placing this project near existing amenities like the skate park and amphitheater, enhances the overall appeal as a hub for a family friendly outdoor activity center.” “Rotary plans to fully fund this project through grants and fundraising efforts just as we’ve done with our previous initiatives, however to help us bring this vision to life more efficiently, we may request the city’s help with some labor during the initial installation phase.” 

“The Del Rio Rotary Club has a long history of service and investment in Del Rio - from creating Rotary Park and the Rotary Pocket Park downtown, to ongoing projects like Rotary Village 1 and 2.” “Our club is deeply committed to improving the community we share and we take pride in identifying needs and implementing solutions that benefit residents of all ages.” “This bike project is no different, it aligns with our mission to provide health, recreation, and community engagement.” 

“We’re excited about this project’s potential to enrich the lives of Del Rio residents and we hope to continue working in partnership with the city to make our community healthier, stronger, and more connected.” 

Jake Carsten then went on to present the design concepts and plans for the potential pump track. “This is a bicycle pump track designed to be a continuous track that has rollers and berms interconnected with no dead spaces so that when you learn to pump it, you can actually ride it without actually pedalling,” Carsten shared. “It is basically ideal for all ages, they’re great for scooters, skates, skateboards, balance bikes, mountain bikes, bmx bikes, jump bikes as well, “ he continued. “A broad demographic for the actual audience as well.”

The site that they have settled on and hope to gain approval for, after many conversations with city officials and city council, is the site directly adjacent to the Del Rio Skate Garden located at 1101 W. De La Rosa Street. 

He shared that the existing basketball court would have to be removed which is why they are seeking help from the city for the demolition of that court and a few small trees before construction of the pump track can begin. 

Carsten then presented the three potential design concepts, two of which include keeping the existing fence that runs along the park as an integrated part of the track, and the third would involve the removal of the fence.

Potential Rotary Pump Track design to be built adjacent to the Del Rio Skate Garden.

“Concept 1 would include a kid’s beginner track on one side and a smaller conventional track on the right side, Concept 2 shows that same kid’s beginner track as well as a much larger track that’s kind of intermediate, advanced line as well as a jump line, providing full progression of pumping, manualing, and jumping, which are kind of the three tiers of progression in this park, and the last concept shows an even bigger track which we could do in combination with the kid’s track if the fence is not in play,” Carsten presented. 

Carsten also told council that they have done a fair amount of research on whether the fence could be removed with no real answers so they hope that council can help with that issue, stating that the design possibilities for the track open up substantially without the fence in place. 

He reiterated that the Del Rio Rotary Club plans to pay for the pump track through fundraising and grants, taking that responsibility away from the city. 

“What we would like from the city is basically a resolution committing to the site, because the rotary club is spending money that has been hard won through fundraising and so forth, we want to be sure that the city is fully committed to the project before they move forward and start spending funds,” Carsten explained. “Then eventually an ordinance talking about whatever signage and rules need to be in place, and then also help navigating the permitting process.” 

Operations and Compliance Auditor, Scot Carcasi, talked about the planning process and location search, clarifying why they ultimately landed on the park where the Skate Garden is located, “The Skate Garden was designed to be a destination location for people to come to Del Rio to use that particular facility, with this it adds the same kids that are using the skate garden will use this pump track and cross over, and just kind of open up,” Carcasi said. “That skate garden has been pretty successful, every evening it’s full so working with Rotary Club and Jake Carsten, we all came to the conclusion that this location would really work out and really help that area of town become a destination that everybody would want to come to.”

The Mayor thanked the Rotary Club for the presentation and expressed support for the project, informing council and the public that the resolution to approve the space adjacent to the Del Rio Skate Garden will be brought back for a vote at a later date once the city attorney has looked at and approved the proposal. 

Once the city attorney has approved the use of the space, design concepts will be brought back before the council to vote on and create a resolution for the Rotary Club Pump Track to move forward.