Buckley pump track construction begins; nonprofit seeks finishing funds
Published 1:15 pm Monday, May 18, 2026
Ground was broken on a new pump track in Buckley last weekend.
This unique track, which uses hills and valleys to allow riders to maneuver their way around sans foot power, is being built by Jalen Johansen of Johansen Construction and his nonprofit, Pedals for the People.
The Buckley City Council agreed to provide Johansen the land for the pump track, which will be located between the Foothills Trail Doc Tait Pavilion and the Veterans Memorial, and to waive permit fees for the project, in September 2025.
Since then, Johansen has been fundraising for the $200,00 he believed he needed for the project to come to fruition.
A November 2025 fundraiser brought in $125,000, and a GoFundMe a further $3,400. However, Johansen is still looking for another $50,000 to round out the project via grants, mountain bike raffles, and individual donations.
To donate, go to gofundme.com/f/buckley-pump-track.
Outside of cash donations, Washington state businesses Core & Main donated storm water materials; Icon Materials aggregate for the track base; CalPortland the pipe bedding; and Becker Blacktop the asphalt.
“Without the amazing support from the community and local companies like these, this project would not be possible,” Johansen said in a recent email interview.
The city of Buckley originally explored the idea of a pump track in a 2024 resident survey, although it proved to be a less popular idea to a splash pad or some trail expansions.
That said, the city lacked the funds to construct any of the possible options provided in the survey.
But being a self-described fan of “anything with two wheels,” Johansen said building the pump track as a nonprofit would keep costs low and, with an asphalt surface, bring more biking opportunities to Buckley, both for residents and even tourists (it appears the closest pump tracks are located in Seattle), year round.
After the track is completed, the city will take over ownership and upkeep.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of June.
