Newton Stewart BMX Track, Scotland

Douglas Park BMX track

Clark & Kent Contractors helped design and build the Douglas Park bike and scooter track project at Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

From an initial site visit and proposal in 2016, the BMX track building project developed into a 4-man race track, with associated works, to complement the Douglas Park location.

In 2018, funding was secured, and the years of planning came to fruition. Clark & Kent Contractors were appointed as the principal contractors to oversee all elements of work in the park. We aimed to provide a safe, fun, and challenging track for all levels of BMX riders, cruiser riders, and mountain bike riders.

A track that can hold informal races is an excellent benefit to the community. Hence, we installed a Pro Start starting gate system with handrails, steps, and all the necessary equipment.

In addition to the trackwork built to specific Clark & Kent standards, we took care of several additional items. These included a spectator perimeter fencing scheme for a professional and competition-style feel, a 200-metre tarmac footpath, a 900-metre gravel car park and a drainage scheme. Additional fencing and gates were also added to refresh the whole park.

Finally, we presented the community with ten professional standard BMX bikes, five child-size and five adult-size. Each bike had a helmet so people could practise their BMX riding skills safely. The opening event was a great success, and the track was extremely well received by all users, councillors and, most importantly, the local community.

Douglas Park is located in Newton Stewart and features a BMX track, seven-a-side football pitch, play facilities, picnic benches and parking. The park was transformed thanks to the work of local volunteers and funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council, Holywood Trust and the Hugh Fraser Foundation.

Newton Stewart is a town on the River Cree between Stranraer in the west and Dumfries in the east, sometimes called the 'Gateway to the Galloway Hills'. Forest Enterprise manages many nature trails in the nearby Galloway Forest Park.