Paving The Way For A Newtown Skate Park

By Dottie Evans

There is still a long way to go before Newtown has its own permanent youth skatepark facility, but Parks and Recreation Department Director Barbara Kasbarian and Kenneth Gottschalck, president of the parent group Newtown Skate Park Association (NSPA), both feel real progress toward that goal has been achieved.

This despite the fact that all 2003–04 town budget money that might have gone toward the park was removed during a revaluation year where fiscal restraint was the dominant theme.

As for the skaters themselves, who are mostly middle schoolers between the ages of 10 and 15, they seem to have enough collective energy to put the project over the top right now. If raising money were as easy as riding their boards and launching themselves into thin air, the park would already be built.

“The younger generation is totally into it. Older kids get driving licenses and their interests change, although some core teams always come to our events because it’s in their blood,” said Mr Gottschalck after the most recent fundraiser at Newtown High School on Saturday, October 25.

“These younger kids are still working on the whole package, growing their lives and reaching out for their identities outside of academics. You should see how many smiles were on their faces Saturday. And a couple of checks came in from people who donated funds,” he added.

Mr Gottschalck, parent of a 12-year-old skateboard enthusiast, said that a skateboard park would offer the youngsters a safe, legal place to gather and practice their sport.

“If you reach just one child and give them an alternative, it’s worth it.”

High Hopes For Next Budget Year

Ms Kasbarian takes the long view, and after 30 years’ experience, she is confident the skate park will eventually happen.

“After all, it took ten years to raise the money for Treadwell Park swimming pool,” she recalled, speaking from her office Thursday morning.

“We’re putting it in the budget again for next year. We’ll ask for $35,000 and see what happens. [The same request] held on pretty well this year, but it was yanked out at the end,” she said.

At the moment, the Parks and Recreation Department’s skate park fund has a total of $3,000 “that we have in our account right now,” Ms Kasbarian said, and the skate group must continue to fundraise to bring that total up, so that if budget money becomes available next year, the town can match it.

“The kids really need it. They’re all over the place again. At the middle school recently, there had to be 20 or 30 kids over there, and they had to call the police. The kids need a place to go and vent. This is their sport, so we want to provide that place.”

The old tennis court at Fairfield Hills would be a good location for a temporary park, she added, and said she hoped the town would have title to the property by December.

Speaking for the NSPA parent group, Mr Gottschalck said that this winter they plan to apply for corporate and foundation grants for dispersal of community service funds.

“I thing we’ve proved to the community that the spirit is there.  We’ve already raised $3,500 of other people’s money, and we have received donations from local businesses.”

Some of that money is owed to Newtown Youth Services but there is a positive balance, he added.

Mr Gottschalck would like to see a temporary facility go in immediately, and he feels they have enough money to buy some basic portable equipment.

“By spring, the children could be skating. I don’t have a gigantic goal where this has to go. But I do have a goal to plant the seed and let the community decide.”