Popular Manchester park to get to track for bikes, scooters and skaters

Delamere Park, off Ashton Old Road, will soon see the continuous loop of bumps and bends installed just next to the playground.

Author: George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 22nd Oct 2023

A park in Manchester will get a new ‘pump track’ for BMXers, scooter riders and skateboarders.

Delamere Park, off Ashton Old Road, will soon see the continuous loop of bumps and bends installed just next to the playground. The name ‘pump track’ comes from the pumping motion used by the rider’s upper and lower body as they ride around the track.

The new track will be designed for ‘all wheels’ such as mountain bikes, scooters, BMXs, skateboards and in-line skates.

The track is not designed for motorised bikes as the bumps and turns would be difficult to manoeuvre. Combining the new track with the existing community hub and playground, it is hoped this would form a new ‘activity hub’ in the heart of the community in east Manchester.

Additional seating, picnic tables and bike stands would be included in the works as well as the replacement of two storage units for equipment to be kept.

A design and access statement said: “The track has been designed to fit seamlessly into the wider park landscape and at the same time have its own sense of identity. Whilst still completely open to the wider park, the cycle gates and rumble strips to the north and south ‘entrances’ signal the bike track area.

“The bike gates and rumble strips also act to slow down bike users approaching and leaving the bike track along the existing pathway. The use of macadam with florescent chips are proposed between the ‘entrances’ could be changed to further emphasise the distinctiveness of the area.”

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