Community Members Discuss Future Skate Park
Members of the community expressed excitement Wednesday as plans for the skate park to be located at the Newberry Recreation Complex were revealed.
Funded through the Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) referendum, the skate park is just one of several expansion projects to be located within the recreation complex, said Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Collin Shealy.
Mayor Foster Senn shared that the skate park project was something a lot of younger members of the community suggested that Newberry needed, and that council had thought it was a good idea and gotten behind it.
“It’s been a popular project, and I think it’s really exciting,” Senn said.
Edcon, Shealy said would be the contractors for the project. Scott Hood, project manager at Edcon spoke Wednesday on behalf of the project.
“We’re really excited to be a part of this project,” Hood said. “We build schools and parks across the state and are a Newberry County contractor. I personally love skating and am really excited.”
Subcontractors, 5th Pocket Skateparks shared the design plans with council and community members present. Owner, Jesse Clayton shared their most recent project had been in Irmo, SC.
“We like to keep our designs interesting for high-level skaters, but also safe enough for beginners,” Clayton said. “We like to keep a progressive design and something that could be used in a multitude of ways.”
Clayton shared that they had created what they felt was good for a range of both beginner and intermediate skaters with various height ledges and lengths, and a flat bar for mixed use. The design includes elevation change and quarter pipes that vary from 2-4 feet.
“I think this covers a lot of the most popular items,” he said.
Public comments on the design from the community were positive, with the consensus that it looked like it catered well to a variety of skillsets. A parent of a child who enjoys skateboarding said she was impressed and felt a lot more secure knowing her son had a safe space to go do something he loves.
“I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I am really impressed,” she said. “I think you’ve done a great job with the plans.”
A suggestion of potentially adding lights for evening skating, especially following daylight savings time was mentioned. While the city shared that wasn’t currently in the plans for the project, Clayton said the park was extremely open-ended and could be expanded upon in the future.
The skate park’s dimensions were approximately 43 foot wide by 96 foot long, approximately the size of a college basketball court. The project is estimated to begin construction in the early part of 2025.
Other projects funded include expansion at the complex’s Gully Washer Splash Park, a miracle league baseball field, bleacher shade structures, a maintenance building with parking and a new drop off and accessible parking.
Members of the community expressed excitement Wednesday as plans for the skate park to be located at the Newberry Recreation Complex were revealed.
Funded through the Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) referendum, the skate park is just one of several expansion projects to be located within the recreation complex, said Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Collin Shealy.
Mayor Foster Senn shared that the skate park project was something a lot of younger members of the community suggested that Newberry needed, and that council had thought it was a good idea and gotten behind it.
“It’s been a popular project, and I think it’s really exciting,” Senn said.
Edcon, Shealy said would be the contractors for the project. Scott Hood, project manager at Edcon spoke Wednesday on behalf of the project.
“We’re really excited to be a part of this project,” Hood said. “We build schools and parks across the state and are a Newberry County contractor. I personally love skating and am really excited.”
Subcontractors, 5th Pocket Skateparks shared the design plans with council and community members present. Owner, Jesse Clayton shared their most recent project had been in Irmo, SC.
“We like to keep our designs interesting for high-level skaters, but also safe enough for beginners,” Clayton said. “We like to keep a progressive design and something that could be used in a multitude of ways.”
Clayton shared that they had created what they felt was good for a range of both beginner and intermediate skaters with various height ledges and lengths, and a flat bar for mixed use. The design includes elevation change and quarter pipes that vary from 2-4 feet.
“I think this covers a lot of the most popular items,” he said.
Public comments on the design from the community were positive, with the consensus that it looked like it catered well to a variety of skillsets. A parent of a child who enjoys skateboarding said she was impressed and felt a lot more secure knowing her son had a safe space to go do something he loves.
“I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I am really impressed,” she said. “I think you’ve done a great job with the plans.”
A suggestion of potentially adding lights for evening skating, especially following daylight savings time was mentioned. While the city shared that wasn’t currently in the plans for the project, Clayton said the park was extremely open-ended and could be expanded upon in the future.
The skate park’s dimensions were approximately 43 foot wide by 96 foot long, approximately the size of a college basketball court. The project is estimated to begin construction in the early part of 2025.
Other projects funded include expansion at the complex’s Gully Washer Splash Park, a miracle league baseball field, bleacher shade structures, a maintenance building with parking and a new drop off and accessible parking.
