By Jon Chown
FELTON — Local cyclists are just months away from getting a great new place to play as construction is underway for the new pump track at Felton Covered Bridge County Park. A groundbreaking ceremony was held April 23, marking the start of the project.
The event, held at the park on Graham Hill Road, was hosted by the County of Santa Cruz Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services in partnership with Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship and 5th District Supervisor Monica Martinez.
“This project is going to provide our children with something they’ve been missing,” said Martinez.
Martinez said she had children that were going to enjoy the park, just as many other kids would. “I see this as a huge asset for their health, for their safety and for their connection to the community,” she said.
Martinez then read a letter she received in support of the project written by a young student named Milo. “I urge you to increase funding for the pump track. It could allow me and many other kids/people to get off their phones and have a fun place to go that doesn’t create carbon emissions,” the letter read. “After school, kids just doom scroll, and I know this could get me and my friends off our phones.”
Matt De Young, executive director of Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, said his organization has built multiple pump tracks across the county, each becoming a popular destination for families.
“We hear all about the doom and gloom, but we can still do great things together as a community,” he said.
The planned 10,000-square-foot pump track is designed for cyclists, skateboarders, scooter riders and roller skaters of all ages and skill levels. The track will feature a low-profile, closed loop of paved rollers, jumps and berms, along with split-rail fencing and a stormwater management system intended to contain runoff onsite.
The track will have a sunken design to help preserve views of the park’s historic covered bridge, while native landscaping is intended to integrate the new facility into the surrounding environment.
“The proposed pump track at Felton Covered Bridge County Park is an exciting investment in the future of our community,” County Parks Director Jeff Gaffney said. “It transforms an underused space into something vibrant, active, and inclusive—giving kids, teens, and families a safe place to build skills, stay active, and connect with each other outdoors.”
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding in December 2023 between County Parks and the stewardship group to support fundraising and construction of the project, which will be donated to the county upon completion.
Construction is being led by the stewardship group’s professional trail crew. Organizers said they are continuing to seek community support to raise the remaining 10% of the project’s budget and plan to offer select volunteer opportunities during development.