Hendersonville invests in pump track and parks maintenance complex

Hendersonville is moving forward with two parks projects, building an asphalt pump track at Veterans Park and replacing its maintenance headquarters at Drakes Creek. The track could be ready around Christmas, while the first phase of the maintenance complex is expected to be completed by spring.

The proposal for a pump track grew out of a community suggestion from David Harden, who has sold bicycles in Hendersonville for decades. Harden wanted the city to consider a dedicated riding space that could accommodate people across a range of skill levels. His inspiration came from seeing a pump track at the Sea Otter Classic.

Parks Director Andy Gilley said the idea had progressed into a construction project. Excavators have been moving dirt at Veterans Park to prepare for the asphalt track, which is designed for riders of all skill levels. The work brings the community's proposal closer to becoming a new place to ride.

The track will cost just under $400,000, with state and federal grants paying 80% of that amount. Hendersonville will cover the remaining share. It is one piece of a broader investment in the city's parks infrastructure, with sales tax revenue providing part of the support for that investment.

At Drakes Creek, the city is addressing problems with the building used as its parks maintenance headquarters. The existing facility has flooded at least three times over 50 years. Conditions eventually deteriorated to the point that employees were unable to work inside, making the building's condition an issue for the staff who used it.

One city employee described working in a building with water stains on the walls and recalled that staff had to leave because of mold two years ago. The employee's account highlighted the conditions workers had faced as Hendersonville prepares to replace the facility with a new maintenance complex.

The replacement complex is expected to cost about $1.5 million. Unlike the pump track, which receives grant support, the maintenance project will be funded entirely by Hendersonville. Its first phase is scheduled for completion by spring.

Gilley described the investment as a visible use of public funding. "I think that gives the public something tangible to see where their money's being spent," he said.