EVAN MILLETT, 15, left, Cody Marenius, 14, center, and Daniel Saxby, 14, wish the Bath Youth Meetinghouse and Skatepark weren’t closing its doors on Sunday. City officials are exploring options to possibly relocate The Park.
The Park’s board of directors and supporters want to reopen the youth center and skatepark at the former National Guard Armory next to Bath Middle School. The Bath City Council continues to deliberate on that matter.
Meanwhile, the center and skatepark will be mothballed after closing events this weekend.
Three skaters at The Park shared their thoughts Thursday on the closure: Evan Millett, 15, of Bath: I have no clue (what I’ll do when the skatepark is gone), probably just sit around my house and not do anything. I’ve been coming here for nine years — since the place opened. I was one of the first people through the doors. If it’s gone, it’s going to stink because we’ll have nowhere else to go.
Cody Marenius, 14, of Bath: I’ve been coming here for about five years. I don’t really skateboard that much, but I just come in here to hang out with tons of friends — because there’s nowhere else to hang out. There’s nowhere to meet up and hang out with people. There’s plenty of people (who come here), not just skaters and bikers, all kinds of different variations.
Daniel Saxby, 14, of Bath: I’m going to miss the skatepark a lot. It’s like where I grew up. This is where all the activity was. We all came here. I’ve been coming here since 2005. I started skating here. It was an awesome environment to grow up in. Skateboarding here is amazing. It’s been a fun experience. It’s where I’ve had most of my memories.
To bid adieu to its current digs, the Bath Youth Meetinghouse and Skatepark will hold a holiday potluck supper from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. A pancake breakfast will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday. Cost is $5 per person or $10 per family.
Free skating and biking will be available from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, except during the last Winter Skate Jam, which is scheduled to run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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