Enterprise Pump Track Project aims to give local youth a safe place to ride

By on Monday, August 31st, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories

ENTERPRISE — The city of Enterprise has given the green light for a new pump track in Enterprise City Park, a project designed to give local youth and families a safe, positive place to ride bikes and stay active.

The track will be built on the site of the former ice-skating rink at the city park. Building Healthy Families (BHF), the nonprofit leading the effort, is now in the fundraising and outreach phase, with hopes of having the track ready to open next August, depending on grant awards and local donations.

“We don’t really have a dedicated space in Enterprise or Joseph where kids can easily and safely ride bikes,” Ron Pickens, Wallowa County Prevention Coordinator with Building Healthy Families, explained during a recent planning discussion. “The skate park is great, but it wasn’t really built for bikes, and it’s getting overwhelmed. This pump track will give kids—and adults—a place that’s truly meant for riding.”

Reviving an Idea Years in the Making

The concept of a pump track in Wallowa County isn’t new. A local bicycle club first explored the idea seven to eight years ago, but the effort stalled when a suitable piece of land couldn’t be secured.

Since then, BHF helped bring a bicycle playground in Wallowa to life, and its summer mountain bike program has generated growing support for more bike-friendly spaces. Those efforts helped revive the Enterprise pump track concept and pushed it back onto the community’s radar.

After reviewing multiple locations, a city subcommittee and Enterprise Public Works staff recommended the old ice rink site as the best fit. Another potential site near the creek was ruled out because it would have required complex FEMA permitting and significant upfront costs with no guarantee of approval.

In May, the Enterprise City Council voted to move forward with the project at the former ice rink location.

What the Pump Track Will Look Like

The track will be designed by Shire Built, the same company behind the popular pump track in La Grande.

Unlike the prefabricated concrete structure in Wallowa, the Enterprise pump track is expected to feature a gravel base with an asphalt riding surface, similar in size and style to La Grande’s facility. Until a formal rendering is commissioned, the project team is using photos of the La Grande track to help the community visualize what’s planned.

The total project cost is currently estimated at around $200,000, with a goal of raising roughly $140,000 locally and securing the remainder through grants and other funding sources.

Grants, Local Support, and Community Voice

To date, the project team has applied for several grants. They are optimistic about upcoming decisions on the applications already submitted and have additional grants lined up for fall and early winter. Boosting those local efforts, the Wallowa Mountains Bicycle Club is transferring just over $4,000 in donations raised from their efforts a few years ago to add to the funding pot.

At the same time, organizers emphasize that local support will be critical—not only financially, but in terms of community ownership and buy-in.

A key part of the outreach plan is to elevate youth voices. BHF works weekly with a group of local boys who help maintain bicycles, and those youth will help explain what a pump track is, why it matters to them, and how the community can get involved. Their excitement and stories will inform the public in upcoming outreach efforts about the project.

A Focus on Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles

Beyond recreation, the pump track is rooted in a prevention and public health mindset. Project leaders say the track is meant to:

  • Provide a healthy alternative to risky behaviors
  • Reduce screen time and encourage outdoor play
  • Support physical and mental health for youth and families
  • Help draw people into downtown Enterprise, supporting local businesses

“We’re trying to promote healthier lifestyles and positive choices for our kids,” Ron said. “This is about giving them a place to go, something to be excited about, and a community that’s clearly behind them.”

How to Support the Project

Donations for the Enterprise pump track are currently being accepted through Building Healthy Families, which is serving as the project’s fiscal agent. The group is also exploring additional online fundraising tools and dedicated project pages to make it easier for donors to see progress toward the fundraising goal and follow key milestones such as groundbreaking and construction updates.

Community members can support the project by:

  • Making a financial contribution: Visit oregonbhf.org, drop by in person, or mail donations to 207 NE Park St, Enterprise, OR 97828.
  • Sharing information: Spread the word about the pump track with friends, family, and neighbors.
  • Staying engaged: Watch for upcoming community updates and youth outreach events about the project.

As fundraising moves forward and grant decisions come in over the next several months, organizers hope to keep Wallowa County residents updated every step of the way—from concept, to construction, to the first riders rolling over the new track.

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(Pump track pictured above (right photo) is a general example provided by Shire Built and is NOT an exact representation of the final design of Enterprise’s planned pump track)

Elkhorn Media Group