Council directs staff to pursue feasibility study for proposed pump track at Moulton Meadows Park

The Laguna Beach City Council on July 29 directed staff to move forward with a feasibility study and community outreach for a proposed bicycle pump track concept near Moulton Meadows Park, after hearing more than two dozen public comments for and against the plan.

What was proposed: Staff and the Recreation Committee recommended a rubberized-asphalt ‘pump track’ — two interlocking tracks (one small for beginners and one larger for more experienced riders) — on a roughly 1-acre portion of the vacant land northwest of the Moulton Meadows soccer field, adjacent to existing trails and neighborhoods. San Clemente’s recently opened pump track was cited as a regional example. Staff said the track’s footprint is small relative to the four-acre parcel and that the project would include native-plant restoration and fencing, and would prohibit e‑bikes.

Public response: Supporters included bike-industry leaders, parents, youth-riding programs, and the Orange County Mountain Bike Association, who said pump tracks are low‑maintenance, family‑oriented facilities that reduce informal trail-building and benefit youth skill-building. Opponents — including Laguna Canyon Conservancy and residents near Moulton Meadows — urged staff to avoid the Aliso and Woods Canyon Wilderness Park footprint and warned against taking any designated wilderness or higher-value habitat without equivalent mitigation.

Council decision and conditions: Councilmembers directed staff to proceed with a feasibility study that includes: (1) initial civil/engineering review of the recommended site; (2) environmental screening and habitat restoration plans; (3) early coordination with Orange County Parks on boundary/land-transfer options and potential land swaps; (4) a fundraising plan that prioritizes private, nonprofit, and grant sources; and (5) interim measures for fencing, signage, and ranger involvement if the facility proceeds. Council emphasized getting a rough order-of-magnitude cost estimate from a civil engineer early in the study so the city knows whether the steeper city parcel options require significant earthwork/retaining walls and what that would cost.

Next steps: Staff will scope the feasibility study and return with the engineer’s preliminary cost and site options. Councilmembers suggested prioritizing the county‑land option but asked staff to evaluate other sites — including city property and an El Morro/Water District site — and to engage with the cycling community and conservation stakeholders on mitigation.