Parks & Rec lands sweet trick with $300k grant for pump track, bowl at TD Skate Park
Construction expected this Fall
In 2021, Eman Queveda, 19, of The Dalles showed off a little of his magic. Skaters will likely be happy to hear that The Dalles Skate Park is going to more than double in size.
By Tom Peterson
North Wasco County Parks and Recreation just landed a solid - more than $300,000 to build a concrete skateboard bowl and a pump track for bicycles.
Executive Director Scott Baker said he got news of the cash on Monday, April 10 as the district was awarded the grant from the National Park Service.
The grants are administered by the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department.
“It was nice to get the word,” Baker said this morning, April 13.
Rendering of new concrete bowl and pump track that will be constructed adjacent to the existing skate area at The Dalles Skate Park.
How Big Is It? Like, Tripple Ollie
“This 14,550 sq. ft. addition will transform the currently underused grass and dirt area adjacent to the skatepark - at Thompson Park on west Second Street - into a destination for riders of all abilities. This site is serviced by public transportation and will provide no-cost outdoor recreation to users of all abilities,” according to the grant.
The current skate park is about 8,000 square feet, so when completed locals will have well over 22,000 square feet of joy.
Whats a pump track?
Back in 2020, Anson Jones felt like catching some major air.
It is a circuit of humps, banked turns and features designed to be ridden completely by "pumping" — generating momentum by up and down body movements instead of pedaling or pushing.
And it’s a riot.
More on Money
Baker said The Dalles Lions are also kicking in $5,000 and the District will be putting in about $300,000, bringing the total project cost to about $609,000.
“This project is so awesome,” Baker said. “It’s free fun and entertaining activity for the whole family. We’ll be putting up a coming soon sign.”
Light it up, bro
Baker said there will also be a fundraising event to gain additional dollars for lighting the area to extend the use of the park during darker months.
“At the bare minimum, we’ll be laying conduit and creating stub-outs for future lights at a later date,” he said.
The Creator
Back in 2020, Cory Spencer and David Parker of Joplin, Missouri, installed pro design rails by Willy Santos, two bench ledges, and a DIY curb spine. Their Company American Ramp has the contract to build a new concrete skate bowl and an asphalt pump track.
Baker said Parks and Rec already have a signed contract for American Ramp Company of Joplin, Missouri to begin the project next Fall.
In addition, the Company will be installing a Velosolutions asphalt pump track.
Back in 2020, American Ramp Company installed several features at The Dalles Skate Park including pro design rails by Willy Santos, two bench ledges, and a DIY curb spine.
Some parting notes
Baker said the pump track was the top priority for Thompson according to a recent public survey. And it took digging some test pits on the site to assess cultural resources before applying for the grant.
So, Scott Baker are you a skater?
“No, I had a brief stint in middle school and the beginning of high school,” he said. “I did not stick with it. I wish I would have. I had a Santa Cruz and a Powell-Peralta board. They’d be worth some money now.”
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