By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Community advocates presented to the city council designs for a new bike track to be built in
the San Felipe area.
Concepts for a pump track to be built on 1101 W. De La Rosa Street was presented to the
council during Tuesday’s regular meeting. The track will be built
outside the Joe Ramos Center located off West De La Rosa Street was discussed during the
regular council meeting on Tuesday. Abram Rodriguez, president of the Del Rio Rotary Club,
said the vision for wanting to build the track near the Skate Garden will be beneficial to the city
by creating a hub for outdoor activities in a single area.
in between the Joe Ramos
Center and the recently-built skate park, which is known as the Skate Garden.
As mentioned in the council’s informational packet, a pump track is a continuous loop of berms
and rollers designed to be ridden without peddling.
The project is being organized by the Del Rio Rotary Club, a local non-profit organization.
Abram Rodriguez, president of Del Rio Rotary Club, said the goal of the presentation was to
request approval for the planning and fundraising process of the project.
“The bike area will provide children and families with a safe and fun and accessible space to
learn and enjoy biking. It will encourage physical activity, support outdoor recreation and offer
alternatives to screen time as a priority for many parents,” Rodriguez said.
“Additionally, placing this project near the existing amenities like the skate park and
amphitheater changes the overall appeal of the area as a hub for a family-friendly outdoor
activity center,” Rodriguez added.
Rodriguez talked with The 830 Times after the meeting and said the idea of a pump track was
discussed during the middle of 2024. Rodriguez said he and Jake Carsten, director of trail
development with the Del Rio Parks Foundation, have been collaborating to present the project
to the council.
During the meeting, Rodriguez said the Rotary Club plans to fully fund the project through
grants and fundraising. He said the club wanted to approach the city for the installation phase.
“The Rotary Club has a long history of service and investment in Del Rio, from creating the
Rotary Park and the Rotary Pocket Park downtown, to ongoing projects like the Del Rio Rotary
Village One and Two. Our club is deeply committed to improving the community we share,”
Rodriguez said.
“We take pride in identifying and implementing solutions that benefit residents of all ages. (The
park) is no different. It aligns with our mission to promote health, recreation and community
engagement. We are excited about this project’s potential to enrich the lives of Del Rio’s
residents. We hope to continue working in partnership with the city to make our community
stronger, healthier and more connected,” Rodriguez added.
Carsten and Scot Carcasi, the city’s operations and compliance manager, also spoke during the
presentation. Carsten talked in detail about the pump track and how it is designed as a training
course for beginners. He said the track will be designed for ages two to 70, and it can be used
for skateboards, rollerblades, scooters and other wheeled-operated equipment.
Carsten said he and the Rotary Club talked with council members about choosing an area near
the Skate Garden to build the park. He said they hope the city approves the “target designation
zone.”
Carsten then showed pictures of the design options for the park and of the area where the park
can be built. He mentioned the basketball court outside the Joe Ramos Center may be
demolished in replacement of the pump track.
“What we want from the city is a resolution committing to the site. Because the Rotary Club is
spending money (on the project) through fundraisers, we want to make sure the city is
committed to the project before the (the Rotary Club) starts moving forward and spending funds
. . . And we want (the city) to help with the permit process,” Carsten said.
Carcasi talked about how the Skate Garden had influenced the idea of the pump track. He
talked about how the Skate Garden and the pump track can be a destination everyone,
including people from out of town, would want to visit.
After the presentation was finished, Mayor Al Arreola thanked the Rotary Club for helping with
the quality of life in the city. He said the council wants to support the project and begin the paper
work.
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez had a few questions for the presenters. Her first question was
asking how the park will divide different age groups. Carsten said the park will be designed with
different ramps made for both beginners and experts.
Gutierrez asked about the lifespan of the track’s surfacing and how repairs will be decided upon
in the future. Carsten said there will be a seven-year warranty with the contractor involved,
adding, “Resurfacing typically won’t be an issue."
Gutierrez also asked if Carsten and the Rotary Club are looking for a “certain concept” of the
track to be approved. Carsten said once a resolution for the area is approved, the Rotary Club
will then engage with the contractor (Alliance, Action Sports Experts) to discuss the design
process. He then said updates of the design process will be brought forth to council to be
approved before construction starts.
Based on the positive energy in the meeting, Councilman J.P. Sanchez asked if council could
move forward to approve a resolution, but Arreola said a resolution must be written first, then
presented formally to the council.
No more questions were asked, and the council thanked the three men for their presentation. A
resolution will be presented at the Jan. 28 regular council meeting to approve the use of the
selected area for the installation of the pump track.
