Everyone needs a bit of exercise! The Fitt park pump track in Barcs was built using hand-formed curves

Construction of the two new sports facilities at Fitt park in Barcs began in early May and was completed by the second half of July. As part of the development, a 459-square-metre sports pitch and a 270-square-metre pump track were built under the general contract of STRABAG Általános Építő Kft.. Barcs secured European Union funding for the project through the TOP Plusz ‘Liveable Settlements’ programme. The Fitt park sports facilities were completed as part of a larger urban development project, which involves the refurbishment of roads, pavements and car parks, as well as the redevelopment of the area surrounding the Csíkos House and Heroes’ Square.

The sports ground was built with a permeable surface

The construction of the two sports facilities required different technologies and different types of expertise; consequently, they were built independently of one another, both in terms of location and timing. The sports ground was designed by the experts at STRABAG Sportlétesítmények Kft. , but STRABAG Általános Építő Kft. was also involved in the construction.

The company’s site management team in Zalaegerszeg constructed the pavement surrounding the sports pitch, including the garden edging, the pitch structure and the paving stones. No soil improvement was required at the site – we were informed of this by the contractor.

To construct the layers of the sports pitch, a geotextile was first laid on the compacted sub-base, followed by a layer of stone with a 20/50 grain size distribution, averaging 20 centimetres in thickness. This was followed by the formation of a 6-centimetre-thick levelling layer with a 0/20 grain size distribution. The elasticity of the sports surface is provided by a 3-centimetre-thick layer of rubber mixed with gravel, which was covered with a 10-millimetre-thick, coloured EPDM surfacing. The rubber layers were laid using finiserrel. The entire structure is frost-resistant and permeable. Thanks to the design, rainwater does not remain on the sports surface but seeps through the surfacing into the underlying layers.

Pump track – a lot is decided in the space of a few centimetres

The pumping station presented the contractors with a completely different challenge. As only a conceptual design was available rather than detailed design documentation, STRABAG entrusted this specialised work to the Komló-based company TT Trails Kft., which has international experience.

The usability of a pump track is fundamentally determined by the precise geometry of the waves and banked bends. The correct curves and distances enable cyclists to maintain their momentum simply by shifting their body weight, without having to pedal. Even a deviation of just a few centimetres can disrupt the rhythm of movement, which is why the design requires specialist track-building expertise. Owing to the lack of detailed plans, one of the project’s greatest challenges was the consultations held prior to construction. During these, it was necessary to finalise not only the technical design of the pump track but also the final layout of the sports ground.

The waves and sweeping bends were shaped by hand

During construction, the topsoil was first removed from the site of the pump track, after which the necessary cuts were made. Around 120 cubic metres of earth were moved during the works, and 840 tonnes of 0/32 sandstone aggregate were used to construct the track sections of varying heights.

Machinery was used to move and spread larger quantities of material, but manual labour was required for the details that gave the course its character. This is how the precise shape of the undulations, the banked bends and the transitions between them were created.

60 tonnes of asphalt were laid on the pump track

The crushed stone was laid in several layers. Compaction was checked layer by layer, whilst the load-bearing capacity was measured using a drop-weight test. The thickness of the sub-base varied to accommodate the track’s three-dimensional shape, including the undulations and bends.
Two layers of AC 8 asphalt, each 4 centimetres thick, were laid on the completed sub-base, using a total of approximately 60 tonnes of asphalt. On the tight bends, the sloping surfaces and the transitions between the undulations, it was not possible to use mechanical spreading, so the asphalt was laid by hand and then compacted using plate vibrators.

Rainwater is collected and drained into the centre of the track

On a pump track, drainage is just as important as the proper design of the bumps and bends. If rainwater pools in the lower sections, it not only hinders use but can also damage the track’s structure over time.
In Barcs, the side slopes of the pump track ensure that water runs off the tarmac. Beneath the two green islands enclosed by the track alignment, a 50-centimetre-thick drainage layer made of crushed stone has been constructed to absorb rainfall on site. The drainage pits have been lined with geotextile. To complete the construction work, the sloping surfaces of the pump track have been turfed.

The slopes are ready for active leisure

The aim of the developments in Barcs is to create family-friendly public spaces that offer people of all ages the opportunity to exercise and enjoy active leisure. The town intends to encourage its residents to lead a more health-conscious lifestyle and to make the town even more attractive and liveable.