Local skate ministry urges Seabrook to rebuild skate park, offers to research grants
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Summary
Residents Makayla and Aiden Rios, co-founders of For the Love Skate Ministry, urged council to rebuild Seabrook's skate park citing safety and youth benefits and offered to compile grant research and work with parks staff and the parks and trails committee.
Makayla Rios and her husband, Aiden Rios, told the Seabrook City Council on Sept. 16 that the city's skate park needs a full redesign and rebuild to be safe, usable and to serve local youth.
“My name is Makayla. I live in Seabrook on Aspen Lane,” Makayla told the council, identifying herself as a co-founder of For the Love Skate Ministry, a local nonprofit. She said the organization has hosted competitions and equipment giveaways and that a new skate park would provide a safe place for children and teens to learn and socialize.
Why it matters: Speakers said a functioning skate park supports youth recreation, community building and public safety by reducing skating in streets and parking lots.
What speakers said Makayla described the social and developmental benefits she has observed at skate parks, saying they can help shy children find community and provide a constructive outlet for teens. She said her group has already built local participation and would be willing to compile grant and funding information and present it to the city's parks and trails committee.
Aiden Rios, who identified himself as a co-founder of the same ministry and a longtime skateboarder, said the current park is underused and has safety and design issues that prevent the local skating community from growing. He said partial repairs in the past helped but left the park an incomplete solution, and he urged a full redesign and rebuild so skaters can remain in Seabrook rather than traveling elsewhere.
Next steps Both speakers said they have researched funding options and would be happy to present grant opportunities to city staff and the parks and trails committee. Council members did not take formal action on the skate park during the Sept. 16 meeting.
Ending Speakers called for the city to work with residents and local nonprofit volunteers to identify funding and design solutions; staff and the parks and trails committee were invited to follow up with the presenters.