Skate park planned for Sears Park

Parks and Recreation Director Ruth Plummer stands at the site where a new skate park may be created, formerly the handball court. Photo by Kelly Nolen for HTNP.com

A skate park is likely to become a permanent fixture at Sears Park as part of a $1.2 million landscaping project.

The idea for the skate park was first proposed two years ago by a group of volunteers who constructed a temporary skate park at the Center Elementary School, a trial that Parks and Recreation Director Ruth Plummer called “Very successful.”

Since then, the group has lobbied to have a permanent one built in town.

This new skate park is still in the early stages of planning. Design, and construction documents, as well as more public input are needed before the process of building it can begin.

Plummer also noted that before the skate park can become a reality, more needs to be done in the development of a master plan for the entire park.

Plummer said design and construction of the park will be completed in phases.

And funding will be one of the most critical obstacles, she said.

The Parks and Recreation department hopes to have the ramps commercially built. Pedal Power of Middletown has offered to donate equipment and labor to the project, and hopes to begin their involvement in the spring.

The target ages for the Skate Park users are between 15 and 18.

“This age group is difficult to program for,” Plummer said. “The fact that it [use of the previous skate park] has been successful is all the more reason to include it in future plans.”

The future site of the skate park is planned to be next to the basketball court, on the former handball court, and will measure about 97 ft x 40 ft.

At this time, a chainlink fence has been erected to separate the courts and one of the handball court walls has been removed to make room for the skate park.

According to Plummer, the majority of public feedback for this project has been positive.

One of the main concerns expressed by residents has been whether it is appropriate to integrate the sport into a park of this size.

The previous temporary park was such a success, however, that Plummer is optimistic the permanent skate park will have a similarly favorable outcome. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t have the skate park here,” she said.

“I look forward to the kids having a place to come,” she said.
Posted Nov. 13, 2009