One of the hottest new trends in recreation spots could be on the way to West Portsmouth. Scioto County Commissioners say that they’re taking a close look at Earl Thomas Conley Park as a potential location for a Pump Park.
Pump parks feature circuits of hills and banked turns and were originally designed for mountain and BMX bikers. They’re called pump tracks because bikes are moved by pumping body motion instead of pedaling. The courses are also popular with skateboarders and some are even designed to be wheelchair accessible.
Commissioner Bryan Davis says he’s been working with Kristie Franklin from the Southern Ohio Mountain Biking Association to see if the park is something that might benefit the area. Davis said the park is something that could be enjoyed by both adults and kids alike. The park also has the potential to draw folks using mountain bike trails at Shawnee State Park. He said he feels such a facility could be a huge tourist draw. “There are only around a hundred of these across the country. We’d be at the forefront of this new recreational craze.”
He said right now commissioners “are asking a lot of questions” before they make any decisions and that would appreciate any input from the public on whether they think a pump park is a good idea for Earl Thomas Conley Park. “If you have any opinions, please let us know. We’ll be making the decision soon.”
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