FFH Location Eyed For Skate Park

By Kendra Bobowick

A new skate park in Newtown may have support, but plans for its home are still unclear.

Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian spoke to the Fairfield Hills Authority members Tuesday for a second time about locations at the former state hospital campus saying, “We had asked for the old tennis courts and have had several meetings since then and think we found another more viable location.”

She explained that her commission was willing to forego one anticipated ball field in order to house the skate park instead.

“We’re looking at a possibly permanent location, but if years down the road we need the field [the park] cold be moved,” she said. The area behind Cochran House is where playing fields fill the lawn beside the building and partly conceal the area Ms Kasbarian has in mind.

“It’s an area kind of tucked away and was the site for a field years down the line,” Ms Kasbarian said.  “We think we can fit a nice sized [skate] park in there; it’s hidden from the road.”

Hinting at the spot’s location are some dugouts, a snack shack, and a tree line. “We are looking to go behind that,” she said. Parking already exists, she said. She implied that the fundraising efforts meant to fund the park hinge on the park having a definite location.

Ms Kasbarian stressed, “The group working on this is waiting [to proceed] and I don’t blame them. They can’t start fundraising without a site.”

The fundraising group spearheaded by resident and mother Lori Capozziello aims to raise an estimated $100,000 and once the park is constructed the group will give it to the town. Parks and Recreation will oversee it, Ms Kasbarian said.

“No other sites are considered?” asked authority member Moira Rodgers. Coming to Ms Kasbarian’s defense was authority member John Reed, who explained, “Parks and Recreation endorsed the concept of a skate park and will forego a field. It is my belief that they are saying it’s a high priority.”

Further arguing for the park’s necessity, he said, “I feel strongly that this is a need articulated and underserved and when Fairfield Hills was sold to the town it was going to be a center for recreation.” Mr Reed said he has worked with and listen to children for more than 20 years.

“This is not some new and unusual resource,” he said. Turning his attention to the residents pushing to build a skate park, he said, “We have to be sensitive to the citizens’ group.”

Ms Rodgers was not in opposition however, and had good reason for asking about other possible areas to locate the park. She said simply, “It is good to have a fallback plan.”

She made her support clear. “I have been in favor of the skate park and providing for the kids who don’t participate in other sports,” she said.

Other areas like Dickinson Park may seem viable, but are not, said Ms Kasbarian, who explained it had limited space, for one reason. She also hoped to better explain why her department felt Fairfield Hills was their best options.

“We don’t feel we have any other property,” she said. “I know everyone thinks Dickinson is good now that the pool is closed, but we need a master plan for it.” With the lost pool and an aging Fun Space playground that needs replacing, she said that she wants an assessment and plan done for Dickinson, which she estimated to be two years away.

Authority Chairman Bob Geckle also wants to make certain that a skate park at Fairfield Hills is permissible. He said, “One question we need to sort out — Do we need a [Planning and Zoning] site plan here?”

Ms Kasbarian agreed. “I’ll get the information from P&Z. We ought to be sure.”

Mr Geckle also hoped to see the site plan. Ms Kasbarian answered, “Visualize two tennis courts put together.”