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Havre de Grace explores skatepark design; council budgeted engineering funds and will seek grants
Summary
Council members said they want a high-quality, well-used skatepark and have budgeted about $30,000 for engineering design; the city will pursue grants and community input before building, and local skaters offered design and memorial suggestions.
Residents and community members urged the City Council on Oct. 6 to move forward on planning for a skatepark in Havre de Grace and to involve local skaters in design decisions.
Dalen Louderback, who said he grew up skateboarding locally, urged city leaders to avoid low-quality prefabricated designs and to plan a durable park that serves bowl and street skaters of different ages. He and other speakers suggested the design incorporate local waterfront or town character and recommended community input from regional skatepark builders and users.
Fred Brown, a local skatepark advocate, thanked council members who have been in contact with organizers and reiterated the request that the skateboarding community be engaged in the design process to ensure utility and safety. Several speakers mentioned past examples nearby (Glasgow, Hazelwood, Aberdeen) as precedents for what to avoid or emulate.
Council members said the city has already allocated approximately $30,000 in the budget for engineering design work and noted they recently learned some of that design cost might be eligible for grant funding; council said the administration may hold off using city funds immediately in order to apply for grants to pay for the engineering study. Council promised an open call for input from regional skatepark experts and the local skating community during the design phase.
No final site or construction funding was decided at the meeting. Council members asked staff to pursue potential grant sources and to return with a design-study scope and budget, and they said they will involve the skateboarding community as part of an inclusive planning process.
