OLD ORCHARD BEACH — After tonight’s meeting, town councilors will have a workshop on the proposed skateboard park.
Recreation Department Director Jason Webber said the workshop’s primary focus is to finalize the location for the new park. Town officials would need to approve the proposed site near the Ballpark in order for the project to move forward.
Since the old park on E. Emerson Cummings Boulevard was dismantled in part to make room for the new police station, the recreation department along with a group of town youth have worked together to plan for a new skate park.
Webber had estimated a new skate park could cost between $70,000 and $100,000.
The group currently has about $38,000 – $30,000 in the recreation department’s capital improvement budget, a $5,000 grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation and $3,000 in donations – which could fund the construction of a pool-like structure with curved walls common in skate parks and known as a “bowl.” This would give skaters a place to go and allow the group to continue fundraising for additional elements.
If the site is approved, Webber said the department could seek bids for the project as early as next week.
Tonight’s town council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
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