Reconstruction of Harrisonburg's skate park has been delayed for the better part of a year, after local skaters expressed opposition to designs that had been drafted without their input. Now, the city is asking the skate community what they'd like to see. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
[people talking in the background]
About 20 skateboarders, roller skaters, and BMX and scooter riders gathered in the Westover Park gymnasium on Monday to weigh in on Harrisonburg's new skate park. The original, 20-year-old skate park was torn down last April, after the city council set aside $475,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds for renovations.
But when the city announced they planned to replace the old obstacles with less-desirable steel features, the skate community spoke out on social media, in city meetings, and in an online petition that garnered more 1,300 signatures.
The city changed their contract with the American Ramp Company without incurring extra fees, which will delay the process to include community feedback. Brian Mancini, director of Harrisonburg's Department of Parks and Recreation, said they can still use ARPA funds for the project.
BRIAN MANCINI: We're hoping to break ground in late 2024. … Once they get on site, we're told it takes about two to three months from that time.
As the community requested, the new park will be made of concrete. Professional skateboarder Julia Brueckler is one of the American Ramp Company designers.
JULIA BRUECKLER: We actually already had a meeting with the local skate shop owner and a few … older skateboard guys that have a good understanding of what the community here does and what they want … and we went over small details of exactly how tall should a box be, do you want a round rail, do you want a square rail, all, like, the little nerdy things.
Fourteen-year-old Elliot Norment, who skateboards and rides BMX, is hoping for –
ELLIOT NORMENT: Definitely a lot of ramps. I do think we could go for some more skateboarding, freestyling stuff. A bowl would also be nice.
An online survey about the skatepark is available for the next two weeks.
