Denmark community builds town’s first BMX pump track for riders to test their skills

The Denmark community have been busy building the town’s very own BMX pump track to give young riders a place to learn the sport and hone their skills.

The Denmark Mountain Bike Club’s team of volunteers have spent the past three weeks constructing a pump track, with the help of local businesses, near the skate park in the McLean Oval sports precinct.

The pump track is expected to open to the public in about a month once the new jumps “settle”.

DMBC president Brad Drummond said the the club involved local children and riders in the project to help foster accountability.

“We had heaps of kids and adults come along to a busy bee down there,” he said.

“We wanted to get the kids involved in one way or another to make them feel a bit more accountable once its open and they now understand how to maintain and look after it, so that was a success.

“It also gives somewhere for the kids to demonstrate to the public that they can manage and look after an asset like that so if we eventually get a trail network, the kids are more than happy to do maintenance and help out while getting the enjoyment of using it.”

Mr Drummond said the project was inspired by Albany’s pump track which opened last year.

“There is not really much in town for the kids, there are no sanctioned mountain bike trails and the skate park is quite small,” he said.

“With what Albany is seeing with their pump track, if you go there after school or on a weekend you see so many kids there playing and families enjoying it.

“We took that idea and thought we’d like to do something like that.

“Our pump track is going to be a great entry level for kids and there’s some more space there for potential development in the future.”

Shire of Denmark director corporate and community services Gina McPharlin said the track was an example of community spirit.

She said the project would not have been possible without the donations and help of local businesses.

“All we did was provide a bit of seed funding support and the community did the rest,” she said.

“It’s been incredible to watch the spirit of our can-do volunteering organisations and community groups as they have worked together to create this exciting new community asset.”

An area at McLean Oval precinct has also been earmarked for a proposed beach volleyball court, according to the Shire.

Community members are asked to stay off the pump track until the fence is removed in about a month.