In October 2025, SVMTB put out a Call to Action asking our community to show up and voice support for a pump track as part of the Fortini Property Site Plan. We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who submitted comments, attended meetings, and spoke up for mountain bike infrastructure in our local parks.
Because of your overwhelming response, Santa Clara County Parks (SCCP) took notice. While the department ultimately decided against placing a pump track at the Fortini Property due to site-specific technical and environmental constraints, your voices made a direct impact.
Official Response from Santa Clara County Parks
Here is the statement provided by Santa Clara County Parks regarding the site assessment and future opportunities:
“Although there was substantial interest in a pump track as part of the Fortini Property Site Plan, the Parks and Recreation Department determined it was not a suitable location for multiple reasons. A large portion of the Fortini Property experiences flooding and poor drainage, including being located within the 100-year floodplain. Being located in a floodplain requires significant design considerations and costs, as well as the potential for being rejected during the permitting process.
The portions of the property that are not within the floodplain are located at the southern and northern ends of the property. The portion of the property along McKean Road was avoided for any development besides trails to avoid visitors gathering and creating safety hazards for the proposed crossing near the McKean Road intersection. Also, the primary parking lot expansion proposed in the Site Plan is to the existing Rancho San Vicente Parking Lot. A pump track separate from a parking lot would mean increasing the number of visitors who are crossing McKean Road on a regular basis.
The small parking lot that was proposed on the northern end of Fortini Property occupies the only area that is outside of the floodplain. The purpose of this parking lot was to eventually phase out the existing roadside parking along San Vicente Avenue.
As a result of the public support for a pump track, however, the Department did present a high-level Mountain Bike Feasibility Study to the Parks and Recreation Commission, which identified potential upcoming opportunities for community participation in support of a pump track or other mountain bike amenities. The Department is currently in the process for Master Plans at Hellyer County Park and a portion of Coyote Lake – Harvey Bear Ranch County Park and encourages any persons interested in a pump track location to participate in those planning process or reach out directly to the Department.”
What’s Next? Keep the Momentum Going!
This response proves that when our community mobilizes, decision-makers take concrete action—like presenting a Mountain Bike Feasibility Study to the Parks and Recreation Commission! While Fortini had insurmountable site constraints, County Parks has explicitly pointed us toward upcoming opportunities where pump tracks and bike amenities can be built.
Our work isn’t done. The more consistently we voice what we want, the bigger the impact we will make.
County Parks is actively seeking community participation for two major Master Planning processes:
- Hellyer County Park
- Coyote Lake – Harvey Bear Ranch County Park
Both of these master plans represent our next best chance to advocate for pump tracks, bike parks, and enhanced mountain bike amenities.
How you can help:
- Participate in Master Plan Public Meetings: Attend upcoming public workshops for Hellyer and Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch.
- Submit Public Comments: Request dedicated bike amenities and pump tracks in these specific park master plans.
- Reach Out Directly: Share your feedback directly with Santa Clara County Parks to keep mountain biking top of mind.
Thank you again for stepping up during the Fortini Property effort. Let’s carry this momentum into the next round of planning—together, we can make an impact!
