MILL VALLEY, CA — A group of Mill Valley kids and parents are asking city leaders to provide a legal home for youth biking, after informal dirt jumps in Scott Valley were removed.
During the City Council’s open public comment period on May 18, several elementary and middle school‑age riders described how they had helped build and maintain the Scott Valley jumps and how disappointed they were to see them taken down. They asked the city to work with them on either a new jump area or a small pump track.
“We put a lot of work into the Scott Valley jumps, and we were really disappointed to see them taken down,” said one student, Wells Lippner. “ We want to help the city identify a new location for the jumps, and assist in designing and building them again in a compliant way.”
Another rider said that without the jumps, “all we can do after school is just sit on the couch,” and urged the city to consider a flat area, citing near Boyle Park as a potential site.
Several speakers stressed that their goal is to ride in a safe, designated place where the city knows that all the kids will be safe, respectful, responsible and kind to the area.
During that discussion, Vice Mayor Caroline Joachim noted repeated public requests.
“At every meeting I've attended, whether it's an evening meeting at the Parks and Rec Commission or a daytime meeting or a meeting at the community center, there have been a variety of children, not just the same kids and adults at every meeting, but a wide swath of our community that have been asking for a pump track,” she said.
Kids told the council they had gathered about signatures to show broad support.
“That should be proof that it’s not just us who care,” one kid said.
The comments come as the Parks and Recreation Commission finalized a Boyle Park Master Plan that doesn’t include a pump track but does acknowledge strong community interest in one.
Councilmember Urban Carmel later pointed to these requests when reviewing the plan, noting that a pump track has emerged as a clear community priority even if its location remains unresolved.
City staff and commissioners said they expect to continue exploring options for a dedicated bike facility in coming months.
“When I first heard about the pump track, I was excited for the pump track, but I didn't think Boyle Park really had the space for it, and I think the working group made the right decision on pausing on that, and we can hopefully find another place in town for the pump track, which obviously the community really wants that amenity,” said Mayor Max Perrey.
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