Since 2008, Topsfield Playground Committee (TPC) volunteers have raised over $350,000 with a mission to provide fun, safe, accessible, and physically challenging play areas for the community of Topsfield. We recently finished our most recent project…the Bare Hill Pump Track!

A pump track is a simple and fun continuous dirt circuit track made of a series of ‘rollers’ (2’-3’ high rolling jumps and dips), ‘berms’ (high banked dirt corners), and launch ramps or elevated areas to ‘roll in’ (start) from. The design is geared toward all ages and abilities and provides a new and exciting outdoor recreational activity to local families who love to ride their bikes and be active. It’s a fantastic way to build core strength, improve bike skills, and have fun! 

When we first approached the town with this idea in the spring of 2020, our initial task was to find an appropriate location to build the pump track. After conducting many site evaluations, it was determined that Bare Hill Park (beside Pine Grove Cemetery) would be a great location for the pump track. The park already exists, is on town land, provides good accessibility from downtown, visibility, parking, an existing walking path, neighbor support, and room for future expansion. In addition to the pump track, we are also excited about revitalizing Bare Hill Park as a place for community members of all ages to enjoy time outdoors!

After 3+ years of collaborating with local volunteer bike enthusiasts, the town, and a successful fundraising campaign, phase 2 of the pump track was completed in the spring of 2024.  TPC is grateful for all the volunteers, town leaders, sponsors, donors, and partners who helped make this vision a reality.  It really does take a village, and Topsfield knows how to make it happen.

Now that the pump track project is wrapping up, TPC is looking for new members to join the pump track maintenance team and the TPC board.  This fall, many of our long-standing board members are retiring by Nov 1st, and we are looking for new members of the community to bring their ideas and energy to our next project(s).

If you have an idea you would like to explore (pickle ball, summer recreation programs, field/park improvements, new playgrounds at Hood’s Pond or Klock Park, accessibility improvements, walking/hiking trails, etc.) or you would like to learn more about how you can get involved, please email topsfieldplayground@gmail.com or contact the new Recreation Director, Jocelyn, at jalmy-testa@topsfield-ma.gov