Felton’s Covered Bridge County Park was positively teeming with kids of all ages last weekend, as the long-awaited Felton Pump Track was opened to the public.
In preparation for Saturday’s event, the fencing had been dropped around the perimeter of the track on Friday; once word got out, kids descended on the smooth, banked asphalt with a joyful frenzy, just waiting to get on their wheels of all kinds and have some fun.
Dignitaries and members of the various agencies who helped to spearhead the build—Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS), Santa Cruz County Parks, Santa Cruz County supervisors and local businesses—were on hand to celebrate the Sept. 19 opening of the pump track.
Felton business owner and visionary Blair Zehm’s plan was brought to life, transforming an unused and dilapidated volleyball court into a beautifully constructed track, and Fifth District Supervisor Monica Martinez was there to cut the ribbon, inviting the community to celebrate the success of the moment.
Between fundraising challenges and some initial community pushback, organizers had to jump a few hurdles to cross the finish line of the project, but once completed, it was obvious to all in attendance at Saturday’s grand opening that the juice was worth the squeeze.
Matt De Young, executive director of SCMTS, said there were a number of large donations that came in following the groundbreaking, allowing the project to be completed without cutting corners on the vision. Donations from the Novak Foundation and K&D Landscaping helped turn the project from “almost there” to “all done.”
“We saw the community really step up once we started construction, and people kept donating. Between the various businesses, they donated equipment, time and labor, and that savings alone covered nearly half the cost of the track. We couldn’t have done it without them,” De Young said.
Katy Peterson, marketing and communications manager at SCMTS, shared her gratitude for the donors and community members who helped her agency flow and jump throughout the process.
“The final week of construction, volunteers came out and installed 160 native plants throughout the entire track. The end result is more than we could have hoped for,” Peterson grinned. “It feels great to be out here today.”
Jeff Gaffney, director of Santa Cruz County Parks, was ebullient in his address to attendees, calling it “a momentous occasion, a milestone for the community, and a reflection of the power of partnership. There aren’t enough thanks for me to dole out.”
He acknowledged former Supervisor Bruce McPherson’s role in bringing the project forward to the Board of Supervisors, and praised current Supervisor Martinez for her staunch support and advocacy of the track. (Martinez’ son was the first to take a turn on the track once the ribbon was cut, and his mom wasn’t far behind on her own two wheels as the public poured into the space.) Martinez was the chair of the Parks Commission once the concept was brought into view, and she was instrumental in turning Zehm’s vision into a reality.
Gaffney said that once ground was broken on the project, the goal was to bring new opportunity, activity and energy to the park; indeed, the turnout on Saturday was a glowing acclimation of his agency’s work to transform the underutilized sand courts into a more vibrant and useful community-oriented space. Native landscaping was donated by K&D Landscaping and installed by volunteers, and the mulch and drainage were a consideration when navigating the potential for increased flooding in area neighborhoods.
Rebecca Hurley, deputy director of Santa Cruz County Parks, said her department had been collaborating with SCMTS for over four years and had worked hard to engage the community on the need for the pump track. Construction was started in July, and Hurley is thrilled that San Lorenzo Valley residents can stay in Felton to enjoy the track.
“What is unique about this pump track is it drops down like a sunken living room in order to preserve the view shed of the covered bridge,” Hurley said. “Sometimes it’s very hard for people to accept changes in their park amenities, but it can be necessary, especially when a population is changing in a community. This is going to serve so many people throughout SLV, and we’re thrilled with the outcome.”
Martinez was awed by the number of community members that poured into the park on Saturday.
“It took a vision and a commitment to that vision; even when there were bumps in the road, we kept persevering, because we believed that our kids need an opportunity to get outdoors in a safe, supportive and fun environment,” Martinez said. “This was the right thing to do for the families of SLV. To me, this place is about inclusion. Everyone is welcome, and over the weeks we’ll see everyone from young children to moms like me getting on that track. I really want this to be a place that belongs to everybody.”
Businesses supporting the build included Bogner HVAC, Granite, K&D Landscaping Inc., Shelton Pipe, The Pit Stop, Team Dahlen Structural, Ernie’s Service Center, Scarborough Lumber, Ronnie Raymond, Jeff Myers, Advanced Drainage Systems, Heartwood Yoga, Santa Cruz Frontier Skate Parks, Central Home Supply, Zehm’s business KRAWL, Las Animas Concrete, Monterey Peninsula College and NHS Inc., all of whom have their names proudly displayed on banners that encircle the track.
“I’m having so much fun!” exclaimed one young rider as she completed her run and merged toward the exit of the track. And that’s what it’s all about.
The Felton Pump Track is located at Felton Covered Bridge County Park, 6299 Graham Hill Road. Hours are sunrise to sundown, and the track is free to use for kids of all ages.
