Skate Park Begins To Reshape Corner Of Dickinson Park

By Kendra Bobowick

“This is one of the happiest moments of my life!” said Donate to Skate Campaign Chair Erin Heneghan. Preparations for skate park construction have begun, and the poured concrete park should take shape by late summer, or at least in time for the coming school year. “Yes!” said Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold, who is hoping for the sooner time.

“We have worked really, really hard,” Ms Heneghan explained, through fundraising, and events designed to bring in funding.

Bids came in June 16 at $88,000 for park construction, awarded to American Ramp Company out of Missouri. A private donor is matching town-committed funds of $25,000. Add to that $50,000 total a supplement of $18,000, which Donate to Skate has raised to date. Also, Parks and Recreation already has $50,000 in committed funds. The money will build the park and contribute to any extras such as water fountains.

Wednesday, June 23, parents opened car doors as their sons and a few daughters spilled from the backseats while dropping skateboards to the paved lot alongside Dickinson Park. The usual Brushy Hill entrance has been moved about 50 yards up to make room for piled stone and gravel fill to replace the blacktop that had been the main entrance and parking area. The gravel has been leveled out and will be the foundation for a concrete slab set as the park’s base where the poured concrete ramps and features — being cast in Missouri — will arrive ready to assemble. The town crews are completing the initial site work.

Ms Mangold knows the process will take time, but expressed her excitement Wednesday when she saw the youth gathered in the area looking at the space where their free park would be.

Devin Marsh said a new park will be “Awesome.” He and friends usually have to travel out of town to an indoor facility to skate. With a park in town, skating will be “easier, you can go more, and it’s not far,” he said. Trane Kessler admitted, “We won’t get ‘busted’ for skating in the street, so now this is a place we can have fun without getting in trouble.”

Adam Robertson wore a Donate to Skate shirt as he stood with his friend and skate enthusiast Tiernan Keane. Others among the roughly 20 people who gathered to show their skate park support were BMX bike rider Julian Lewis, and Kyle Robertson, Christian Thanasoulis, Kieran Lynch, Matt Meyers, parents, siblings, and friends.

Upcoming fundraisers, including T-shirt sales, will benefit the Donate to Skate Campaign. The campaigners will be fundraising during the Parks and Recreation Department’s launch of its Summer Concert Series on July 22 at 6:30 pm at Dickinson. Donate to Skate also has its own fundraiser and skate rally scheduled for August 7 from 11 am to 4 pm, at Dickinson Park. For more information, visit DonateToSkate.com.