Pumped up for new track
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Tillsonburg's new pump track, located adjacent to the Kolin Smith Memorial Skatepark near the Tillsonburg Community Centre, was open for business on the weekend, and business was good with dozens of people on the track.
"This has changed the way this whole park gets used," said Rick Cox, Director of Recreation, Culture and Parks. "It really has."
Cox credited Terry Smith, Kolin's father, for coming up with the idea for a pump track, donating significant money to it, and overseeing its construction.
"Without Terry, without the support of Town Council and our Revitalization Committee, it wouldn't have happened," said Cox. "We're really excited to see folks responding so well, and we just hope that everybody has a good time and does it in a safe way, and that they tell folks that Tillsonburg is worth a visit."
"I've always wanted to do something like this, but never had the time," said Smith, who was surveying the track Monday afternoon with Cox and Corey Hill, Tillsonburg's Manager of Parks and Facilities, after its first full weekend.
"It's getting a good workout," said Terry Smith, noting people from as far as Windsor were using the track on the weekend.
"Every time I drove by, this place was packed," nodded Hill.
"People are coming from all over to try it," said Cox.
"The word got out and people are saying 'where's Tillsonburg?'" Smith smiled. "It's a good feeling to see people who had never heard of Tillsonburg before... and now it's an attraction."
Tillsonburg's Pump Track has a web of looping asphalt trails, rolls, hills, steep corners and ramps that can be used by bikes (or scooters) with minimal pedaling. It's not meant to replace the concrete skatepark, but compliments it.
"It's actually bringing more people to use both," said Cox. "People go back and forth - they're over here (Pump Track) on the bike, then they go over into the Skatepark, so there are people connecting the two."
The $50,000 project came together quickly after a presentation to Town Council in the spring.
"They said, 'as long as you get the funds, you're good to go,'" said Smith, who donated $15,000 from his oil and gas service companies and his family to get the ball rolling.
They saved $30,000 by using recycled material from the horse track area. They also saved money with Smith volunteering to oversee the project, and getting Dirtsculpt to do the project at cost.
"So it was very little money," said Smith. "It probably would have been three times that cost..."
"And other companies donated in-kind," Hill noted.
"Marwood and Wellmaster stepped up and put $5,000 in," said Smith, citing some of their major sponsors, "and Kirwin and Oatman, they also put $5,000 in."
Construction, which began about three weeks ago, was recently completed and the track was open Saturday for its first 'official' weekend. All that remains is cosmetic additions - grass around the perimeter of the track, filling inside portions of the track with mulch, and signage.
"I started the design and Dirtsculpt modified it," said Smith. "It's kind of similar to the original - except for that centre piece.
"Dirtsculpt, they've built parks for Red Bull competitions, and the X Games in Austin. They really don't need blueprints - they look at it and do it. They made it look so easy. And so fast."
The Tillsonburg Kinsmen Club is looking at adding a shaded area, Smith noted.
"We definitely don't want people watching 'on' the track," said Hill. "So we have to have an area for them to watch around the edges. Or else they'll stand where we are... and just be in the way."
Similar to a paved driveway, the pump track will require maintenance over the years.
"Eventually it will need it," said Smith. "Hopefully, it won't need it for another 10-15 years."
SAFETY
Wearing a helmet and protective gear on the pump track is not mandatory, but strongly recommended, said Hill, noting the posted signs.
"It's 'use at your own risk.'"
"I even went and bought a helmet," said Smith, who just recently bought a bike. "Some of these kids are talented, and they do don a helmet. And what I'm starting to notice now is that kids are starting to wear mouth guards."
"There is a sign over here, and over there, that posts all the guidelines of the park," said Hill. "And that's one of them."