Rawcliffe Bar Country Park is a Green Flag awarded natural environment which is an inclusive place for locals and visitors to the York area to spend time. The park has numerous recreation routes which are used extensively by walkers, often with dogs. The existing national cycleway (route 65) is part of the Sustrans Cycle Network and is used for both leisure and commuting in the area. There is also an orienteering course on site.
There are numerous footpaths which lead to extensive areas of parkland which are available for ad-hoc recreation and play (e.g. informal football, kite flying). A formal play area is present to the North East of the proposed site which hosts a range of modern play equipment within a fenced off area to prevent dogs accessing and fouling within the site. Also within the play area boundary a climbing boulder provides new addition to the facilities which provides a basis for continued adventure opportunities for young people.
During the early part of the year DMS, Capita Symonds and Architrail worked with York City Council and the local community to design and develop a proposal to create three mountain bike facilities within the park:-
Phase 1 – A pump track & pump trail
Phase 2 – A beginner cycle loop
Phase 3 – A skills area.
A pump trail is a circular trail running around the edge of the wood on a slight side slope. The trail will be filled with small rollers and banked or bermed corners. There will also be grade reversals, dips and rises. The Pump Trail will be designed to give young riders an introduction to flowing singletrack mountain bike trails. This section will also act as a stepping stone for riders wanting to improve their skills before attempting the more advanced Pump Track. The Pump Track will be a shorter circular trail within the centre of the woodland occupying a flatter area. This trail will be filled with larger rollers, berms and table top jumps. The pump track will be accessed and exited by 4 short linking trails with the Pump Trail. The Pump Track is a more technical version of the outer Pump Trail. The aim is to ride around the track without pedalling. This can be done by ‘pumping’ the features to generate momentum. This a highly technical skill with a good learning curves. The 2 trails together provide a facility suitable for a wide range of ability and age groups, with a strong emphasis on fun and skills development.
In November after the council successfully receiving planning permission DMS started construction of phase one of the scheme; a pump track and pump trail. The initial stage of the project involved marking the line of the new pump track and pump trail, clearing scrub, removing a number of small trees and excavating the track tray. The second stage saw the importation of 200 tonnes of 80mm limestone scalping which was used to create the basic shape of the trail. Once all the stone was delivered and roughly placed around the track Architrail designer Duncan Ferris came onto site to help shape the trail which included installing rollers, berm’s and a table top. Once the trail was shaped and the sub base compacted a 10mm to dust limestone was used to top dress the trail providing the finished surface. Signage and interpretation will be installed and once the route has settled the trail will be opened to the public.
