Parks &Rec Assesses A Newtown Skate Park

By Christian Villodas

As young skateboarders grind on the steps outside schools and churches, Newtown parents are searching for the funds needed to create a skate park in the midst of budgetary cutbacks.

The $35,000 allocated for a skate park in the original Parks and Recreation budget request was trimmed to $25,000 in an early budget review by the Board of Selectmen.

The Newtown Skate Parks Association, a group of parents in support of the construction of a town skate park, are not, however, outwardly concerned over the decreased funding since a beginner’s skate park can cost as little as $15,000, said Ken Gottschalck, NSPA chairman.

He hopes that such a park would serve as a center for parents and children to bond over the sport and provide a safer environment for at-risk children who skateboard.

Proponents of the skate park assert that a centralized facility could also result in a reduction in property damage caused by skateboarders practicing their sport in other, inappropriate areas.

Larry Haskel, Parks and Recreation Commission chairman, is not so optimistic.

“If we build the skate park and then vandalism does not decrease, I think the town will wonder why,” said Mr Haskel. “I think skateboarders will have to police themselves.”

Mr Gottschalck said that there had been “some rumblings about vandalism and some behavior issues,” but that he was unaware of any organized opposition to the skate park.

Local schools and area churches have responded to negative events regarding unauthorized skateboard activities by creating school-sanctioned skating areas and establishing times for young skateboarders, said Mr Gottschalck.

Besides vandalism, liability issues also present a hurdle for the skate park’s construction.

Mr Gottschalck examined both monitored and unmonitored skate park models, deeming both plans as successful but calling for trained volunteers, clearly posted signs, and signed waivers as future skate park options.

“By definition, I’d like to see a proper amount of protocol,” Mr Gottschalck said.

Besides implementing safety measures, the NSPA is also expected to contribute funds to the project, the board reiterated at its Tuesday night meeting.

“We’ve budgeted $35,000, which was cut to $25,000 for the budget for the next fiscal year with the intention of the skateboard association raising matching funds,” said Barbara Kasbarian, Parks and Recreation director. “We felt very fortunate that they only cut $10,000 so far, but it still has to go through budget process.”

That budget process still presents opportunities for the Board of Finance, Legislative Council, and the townspeople themselves to force further reductions in all areas of town spending, including the Parks and Recreation budget.

According to Mr Gottschalck, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal suggested that the NSPA produce the matching funds, but as Mr Gottschalck notes, the matter has not yet been put to a vote.

Mr Gottschalck did point out that a permanent location for the skate park is still years away, but recommended that a park be temporarily established in what are currently tennis courts at the Fairfield Hills campus.

Since the skate park equipment is modular, it would be easy to transport if another, more permanent location were found, said Jack Ryan, Parks and Recreation commissioner.

So far the commission has considered the idea of using the Fairfield Hills tennis courts as a possible temporary location for the skate park, until a more permanent space can be located, according to its members.

Any kind of development, a skate park included, must await the formal purchase of Fairfield Hills from the state by the town. That is expected to take place this summer, Mr Haskel said.

Town approval or not, Mr Gottschalck has already begun to plan.

After visiting Rampage, a company based in Bridgeport, specializing in modular skateboarding systems, Mr Gottschalck was presented with several skate park designs ranging from $15,000 to $65,000, he said.

“For $2,000 you can throw down some fresh tar and some ramps, and you have a starter park,” said Mr Gottschalck. 

And while some board members have voiced support publicly for the skate park project, Mr Gottschalck says he will wait to see what happens.

“You can’t compare the power of a mouth and the power of a check,” he said. “It’s a waiting game, but that’s the way life is.”

(Christian Villodas is a Newtown resident and Fairfield University freshman.)