MORGANTOWN — BOPARC is looking for a little bit of help turning a piece of existing property into a wish list item for certain trail users who prefer pedal power.
Earlier this month, Morgantown City Council approved a resolution tied to a $250,000 grant request to West Virginia Community and Development’s Water and Land Conservation Fund.
If approved, BOPARC would match the $250,000 grant toward a project to construct a bike skills pump track on the land along the Deckers Creek Trail where BOPARC’s Valley Crossing storage building sits.
A pump track is a circuit of small, rolling hills, banked turns and other features that allow riders/skaters to use body weight and momentum, instead of pedaling or pushing, to propel themselves forward.
“This project is on our wish list as we work to make trail system improvements, specifically to trail heads, and also to augment recreational spaces with skill specific activities. We had concept designs done for this pump track around the same time that we began investigating options for lower Marilla [Park] and relocating the skate park,” BOPARC Executive Director Melissa Wiles said.
BOPARC President Danielle Trumble said the feature would be a nice addition situated between the trail system and Whitmore Park.
“We’re looking at potentially doing some mountain biking trails through Whitmore Park and taking down the structure that is currently at Valley Crossing with the intention of putting in this as a trail-side amenity,” she said. “It’s really good for younger children and beginners.”
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a state and federal program that provides matching grants for planning, acquisition and development of state and local parks.
