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This pump track in Port Angeles is an example of the setup’s appeal for riders small and large (Image: City of Port Angeles)
The Colonnade (Image: Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance)
Construction has started on a bicycle pump track project including a new paved track for young riders in a $314,000 overhaul of the city’s I-5 Colonnade mountain bike skills park below the busy freeway on the slope between Capitol Hill and Eastlake.
Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance announced the project is moving forward with construction slated to be completed before summer.
“One beginner-friendly, aMTB-friendly paved pump track; and one larger, steeper paved pump track are expected to be completed by the end of May,” the Alliance says.
The Alliance has been working to improve the bike recreation area challenged by homeless camping, litter, and the area’s steep slopes. It designed and built the Colonnade as “the first urban MTB skills park to open in the United States” when the space debuted in 2005. The Alliance began seeking funding for the new tracks in 2018. The group has been holding work sessions to help prepare the area for the new effort.
With funding from the Seattle Park District, a King County Parks Capital and Open Space Grant, and community donors, the new project is underway.
“You may see or hear loud construction vehicles or power tools, and debris will be stored on-site for removal,” the city says. “Access to some portions of the park will be limited during construction, please follow all signage and construction crew directions to keep everyone safe.”
The work will also help address efforts by the Eastlake Community Council to improve the 7.5 acre park.
In addition to funding, the project needed to secure approval by Seattle Parks and the Washington Department of Transportation which owns the property and leases it the city. CHS reported here on another recent project which created an art installation along the space’s tall pillars.
With designs by Jeremy Bushnell, former pro BMX rider and current Evergreen trail builder/designer, the work will create two new asphalt tracks for pump track style riding — basically, biking without pedaling on circuits with banked turns and rolling routes. Think about something like a skate park-style course for bikes.
The 3,000-square-foot paved adaptable and all skills rider track will be joined by a 9,000-square-foot main track that will be steeper and faster — but still paved and smooth. The project will modernize the existing Tqalu Skills Zone area on the lower edge of the park near Eastlake and the I-5 Colonnade Off-Leash Area.
The tracks can be especially appealing for young riders. The goal of the new asphalt tracks is to make the area more “accessible, fun, and safer for riders of all skill levels,” EMBA says.
The I-5 Colonnade Park is located at 1701 Lakeview Blvd E. You can learn more and check for updates on the construction here.
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It’s way sketchy there. I didn’t feel safe walking near there…years ago. I didn’t know it was there/what is was so walked for a closer look. Bad idea. Just me and a bunch of addicts. Not a place for kids. As long as I am not paying for it.
I literally live across the street from here. I’ve lived here for a decade. There is literally one disabled homeless guy that has live here for years. He is friendly and about the least scary person possible. Like in any city there are occasionally exceptions but this park is in general quite safe. It’s also a great example of the city putting to use a space that would otherwise be undeveloped and offer little to nothing to the community. I’m not saying there aren’t occasions where it can’t be slightly sketchy but I would encourage you to give it another chance.
I walk thought that area on a regular basis (usually mid-morning), and have not felt unsafe. However, it is very little-used. Maybe the new paths will draw more cyclists in, but I’m skeptical.
Yeah I agree. I have heard it’s a combination of a few things:
A.) Some of the initial mountain bike trails are quite difficult limiting who can use them.
B.) the quality of the dirt is not great for what most mountain bikers ride (moon dust)
C.) it’s under a bridge and both most scenic place to ride plus it is scene as sketchy even though it largely hasn’t been the case
I think the good news is that the pump track looks more approachable by a larger range of riders and it’s paved which should solve some of the terrain issues. I do think it may still struggle simply because it doesn’t appear to be a very inviting location. I hope I’m wrong because it’s cool to see the city invest in alternative cycling options
very very cool
Glad they’re still working to improve this space! Best solution would be to bury I5 entirely, but since that’ll never happen this’ll do.
Looking forward to the gentler cycle track. That other stuff was just broken-bones-waiting-to-happen. The space has been growing community — walkers, joggers, bikers. I kill graffiti around the fringes and its really quite a pleasant space.