“The track is a free space for everyone to use and it’s already bringing communities together and supporting people and families to be active”

On Friday 5 August, the brand new ‘all wheels’ Hillsborough Pump Track was officially launched by partners of the project – Access Sport, Sheffield City Council Parks & Countryside Service, Move More and Sheffield Hallam University.

Hillsborough Pump Track is the third track developed and completed this year by Access Sport, as part of Access Sport’s inclusive cycling offer.

Our inclusive cycling offer aims to give every young person access to a bike, the skills and confidence to use it, and somewhere local, safe and exciting to enjoy riding. 

We do this by developing open access community cycling facilities, delivering community outreach and empowering local people to develop sustainable community activity.

This fantastic new facility in Hillsborough Park, designed for all ages and abilities, includes a main, fully tarmacked pump track, learn to ride area and an early riders’ track. It is open every day and is free to use for all. The new facility was built by leading track builders Velosolutions and the project wouldn’t have been possible without the funding and support from The London Marathon Charitable Trust, Sheffield City Council, and the Places to Ride Programme, which is being delivered by British Cycling, Sport England & the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

A local community club is currently in development and there are plans to provide regular club nights, training and coaching sessions. The club will have access to a range of BMX bikes, helmets and pads which everyone will be able to access, even if they don’t have their own bikes. Mountain bikes, jump bikes, scooters, roller blades and skateboards are all welcome.

The official opening on Friday 5^th August saw over 200 riders from the local community accessing the track throughout the day. There were coached sessions for new riders, demos by advanced riders, music, limbo/bunny hop competitions and speeches from key partners (Helen Rowbotham - CEO at Access Sport, Dr Gareth Jones – Sheffield Hallam University, Luke Wilson, Sheffield City Council Parks & Countryside Service).

Cllr Richard Williams, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said:

“The new pump track is a fantastic addition to Hillsborough Park that’s raised the quality of the park as a destination site providing a range of leisure and recreational facilities for the local community. The track is a free space for everyone to use and it’s already bringing communities together and supporting people and families to be active. The success of this project is a great example of partnership working with local and national partners and it massively contributes towards Sheffield’s plans to promote and encourage more cycling across our city."

Joe McTague, Delivery Director at Access Sport, said:

"This project is about much more than just the community cycling facility. More importantly, it's the base for a new community club and a community outreach programme that connects with local schools and community groups. This work will ensure that all members of the community can benefit from the wonderful new facility, including young people that don't have access to a bike or can't yet ride a bike."

Take a look at the photos from the event
Clicking through the gallery below, or click here to visit the photo gallery to download an image:

Watch the launch day film , by Sheffield City Council.

For more information on Hillsborough Pump Track, or joining and supporting the community club, please follow or contact the track on social media: Facebook, Instagram

To find out more about our cycling offer please contact: [email protected], 0207 993 9883