BETHLEHEM, Pa. — About 200 riders on bikes, scooters and skateboards gathered Saturday morning for the ribbon-cutting of a new pump track at Hanover Township Community Center, marking the culmination of a two-year project.
The world-class facility at 3660 Jacksonville Road was designed and built by DirtSculpt LLC, a local bike park construction company founded by Dave King in 2009.
King, who has more than 15 years of experience building bike parks internationally, described the project as special for his hometown.
“Designing this, we knew we had to go all out for our hometown,” DirtSculpt posted on social media. “Thanks to Hanover Township for making this happen.”
DirtSculpt has built bike parks and pump tracks across the United States and internationally, including projects for Red Bull events, the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico and the X Games.
The company’s vision is to strengthen local communities by cultivating bicycling experiences.
The 10 a.m. event drew riders from Philadelphia, New Jersey and throughout the Lehigh Valley. At peak attendance, approximately 60 riders crowded the course simultaneously.
The Posh Woods Project, a newly formed nonprofit dedicated to promoting BMX cycling among youth, participated in its first official event at the opening. The organization provided attendees with free pizza, water, and promotional items.
“This pump track is world-class,” said Jay Lonergan, co-founder of the Posh Woods Project. “People are going to be driving from other states to ride this.”
Lonergan, who has been riding BMX since 1981, started the nonprofit with Brad Josar and Jeremy Baylor following the 2023 closure of Posh Woods, a legendary set of BMX trails in Bethlehem Township that operated for 29 years before being demolished for a quarry expansion project.
The organization aims to introduce children to BMX cycling through free events, group rides, and clinics at venues such as pump tracks and community fairs.
“BMX isn’t a sport that’s at the schools for them to get in like baseball and football,” Lonergan said. “It’s basically word of mouth to get into BMX from your dad or your brother or a friend.”
For James McInerney, 27, the new track represents a significant addition to the local cycling community. McInerney, who lives less than a mile from the facility and has been riding for 23 years, said he plans to visit as often as possible.
“It’s amazing that they put this here so close to me,” McInerney said. “It’s great to see these cities now taking care of it and wanting these kids to actually have a place to go rather than us building it ourselves, because it’s a lot of work.”
McInerney, who previously rode at Posh Woods, Catty Woods and other area trails, said he is already introducing his 2-year-old daughter to cycling with several bikes, including a tricycle and push bikes.
The pump track also attracted professional scooter riders, such as Kai Clark, 23, of Allentown, who has been riding for nearly 16 years and competes internationally while creating content for social media platforms.
Clark said he discovered the facility through a professional BMX rider on Instagram and attempted to ride it three days in a row before the official opening, only to be turned away each time.
“Once I heard about it, I came out here,” Clark said. “They were like, hey, you gotta wait till October 4th, and here we are today.”
Clark, who performs front flips, back flips and other extreme tricks, said he typically rides at Jordan Skate Park in Allentown.
He previously frequented Penn Skate, an indoor skate park located on Carlisle Street in Allentown, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clark, who is involved with Woodward and other action sports camps, said the most significant lesson from action sports applies to life.
“Learning how, when you fall, to get right back up,” Clark said. “No matter how bad and how crazy the accident is, you can rebound and get up and prove to yourself that anything’s possible. And then that all correlates to real-life stuff.”
For riders who grew up building their own trails and riding in tucked-away woods, the new facility represents a shift toward municipal support for action sports.
The track offers a safe and accessible space for experienced riders and newcomers alike, providing opportunities for multiple generations to share their passion for the sport.
“BMX was so positive in our lives,” Lonergan said. “We’re just trying to pass that on to the next generation.”
