West Milford pump track opens

WEST MILFORD, N.J. — Excitement, smiles, cheers — it was all there last Sunday as the West Milford Pump Track had its grand opening.

“Faster, go faster,” said Tom Anton, 11, of West Orange as he zipped past other cyclists on the new track in West Milford, N.J.

There were cyclists from three years old and up enjoying the sunny, crisp day. Folks came from all over the area - from Bloomfield, N.J. to Montgomery and many places in between - to give the new track a try. It's the only one in the area and a project championed by the Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (JORBA) and the West Milford Economic Development Committee.

The EDC partnered with JORBA and Town Cycle of West Milford and presented the idea of a pump track to the West Milford Township Council last year. JORBA members said they would do the work on a volunteer basis and the track would not cost the township anything. The township agreed and one of the practice soccer fields at Farrell Field behind the recycle center on Lycosky Drive was chosen as the new pump track site.

What is a pump track? It is a series of rollers and berms built in a loop that allows riders to pump their way through without pedaling. The pump track is formed out of dirt. Originally, pump tracks were designed by riders as a way to build bike skills and techniques.

"My two sons and I travel the state trying out pump tracks all over the state. Each track has its own challenges and we enjoy them all," said Troy Lacey of Upper Greenwood Lake, N.J.

Jay Huggins was one of the committee members who helped organize the construction of the track. It took about a year and a half to get everything approved and just a few months to actually build it.

"We are so glad this project was a huge success," said Huggins. "I’d like thank everyone that helped make this as successful as it is.”

West Milford Councilman Ed Rosone was also at the ribbon cutting Sunday and was pleased with the result.

"It really was great to finally see the track open after seeing it go through the various stages of construction," said Rosone. "It took a lot of hard work by many volunteers, JORBA, town officials and local businesses, all working together for a common goal and to achieve a great result. I was amazed at the amount of bikers, both young and old, using the track."

The track will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, weather permitting.

Reporting and writing for this story was done by Don Webb and Linda Smith Hancharick.