Chilgok-gun opens bicycle park with park-style pump track, the only one among county-level municipalities

Chilgok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province has opened what officials say is the only park-style pump track bicycle facility among county-level municipalities in the country.

According to Chilgok-gun, the county opened the 6,261-square-meter Chilgok-gun Bicycle Park at 622 Jungji-ri, Seokjeok-eup on Sunday.

The county invested about 1 billion won ($760,000) in the project over three years beginning in 2024, building a pump track, a multipurpose track and rest areas.

A pump track is a facility where riders navigate a course of rolling hills and banked turns to build speed and balance without pedaling.

The Chilgok-gun Bicycle Park features courses designed for all skill levels — from beginners to advanced riders — so that children, families and cycling enthusiasts can all enjoy the space together.

The pump track covers 3,665 square meters, while the multipurpose track spans 1,139 square meters and is complemented by rest areas.

A "2026 Chilgok-gun Bicycle Festival" was held on opening day, drawing about 1,000 visitors.

About 20 elementary and middle school athletes from the Daegu and Busan chapters of the Korea BMX Federation put on a demonstration at the pump track, and national team athlete Seok A-rin also showcased high-difficulty techniques.

The event also featured acoustic busking performances, a mobile safety education class run by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, and a range of hands-on programs.

The bicycle park is free to enter and open year-round. Operating hours run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and may vary by season.

Kim Tae-gyeong, chairman of the Chilgok-gun Bicycle Federation, said the addition of a park-style pump track had broadened the range of cycling options available in Chilgok-gun as the county continues to develop its identity as a cycling city.

County Chief Kim Jae-wook said the park gives everyone from beginners to seasoned enthusiasts a place to ride at their own level, and pledged to consistently expand related infrastructure so the facility becomes a destination for cyclists from across the country as well as local residents.