BMXers, skateboarders and scooter riders will soon be able to put their ability and skills to the test, with construction set to begin on a new pump track at Lions Park in Sale.
Specialist pump track builder Common Ground has broken ground and, if weather permits, construction is expected to take eight weeks.
A public vote saw the third of three proposed designs chosen for the site. The winning design combines speedy straights, a good combination of sweeping left and right turns, and the option to transfer between various lines around the track.
"Pump tracks have proven really popular across our shire, and I'm sure that local kids will love the Sale track, too," Wellington Shire Council Mayor Garry Stephens said.
Pump tracks offer a safe place for kids to skate, bike and scoot. No pedalling or pushing is required, instead a pumping action is used to maintain momentum over an asphalt loop of berms, rollers and bowls.
The all-weather pump track being built in Sale will cater for beginners and intermediate-level riders, scooters and skaters, but Common Ground has also provided a design for a potential expansion of the pump track that would challenge advanced users.
Landscaping and tree planting will also be undertaken by Common Ground and Council will install seats and a rubbish bin.
The project was funded by the John Leslie Foundation, which provided $50,000, and Wellington Shire Council, which provided $100,000.
The pump track, tree planting and landscaping is the first of a multi-stage redevelopment of Lions Park, with further upgrades planned for coming years.
