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Riverton survey finds low use of existing skate park; council weighing replacement, relocation and funding
Summary
City staff reported more than 3,000 survey responses showing most Riverton residents rarely use the current skate park; about 28% supported replacing and relocating the facility, and staff and council discussed Centennial Park and a larger east-side regional park as candidate sites.
City staff summarized results of an online and in-person public survey about Riverton’s aging skate park during a Sept. 16 work session, prompting extended public comment at the council meeting.
Survey findings: Communications and Parks staff said they collected more than 3,000 online responses (filtered to Riverton residents and de-duplicated) and also conducted in-person interviews at the skate park. Staff reported that a majority of respondents classified themselves or family members as "never" or "rarely" users in the past year. About 28% backed replacing and relocating the facility; among those who supported replacement, 54% preferred Centennial Park while about 18% preferred the new regional park proposed east of Mountain View Village. Staff also said the in-person sample at the park showed users perceive competing newer skate parks in neighboring cities.
Engineering and costs: Staff said contractors told the city the existing skate park is beyond repair and would require tear-out and replacement. Budget estimates discussed by council members and staff put a basic new concrete skate park near $1 million; a more fully equipped park with fencing, parking and ancillary improvements could reach $1.5 million or more. Staff said a full design procurement (phases of conceptual design through engineered construction drawings and construction management) would cost about $150,000; phase 1 (conceptual illustrations) was about $50,000. City staff said they submitted an RFP and plan to seek TRCC (tourism/recreation/convention/cultural) funding to pay for design work and reduce city-funded costs.
Community reaction: Public commenters were divided. Several speakers representing youth and families, skatepark users and skate-park advocates urged keeping the park or replacing it close to the current location so walking access remains. Others — including nearby residents, parents and softball organizers — objected to siting a new skate park at Centennial Park, citing parking, proximity to a daycare and a group home, and competing uses for fast-growing youth sports programs. Multiple speakers urged the city to use funding to expand softball fields, add lights, or invest in pump tracks or a bike/motocross facility at the larger 16-acre park site planned east of Mountain View Village.
Funding and next steps: Staff said the council previously designated the skate-park parcel in a 2022 community reinvestment area (CRA) boundary and later aligned park boundaries with the CRA to allow adjacent commercial development and maintain a 300-foot exclusion for alcohol-serving restaurants next to parks. Staff emphasized the 2022 decisions and the city's multi-year planning context for redevelopment of the historic downtown area. The council has not decided to relocate or remove the skate park; staff will return with design-phase funding requests and any grant outcomes. The council also discussed short-term options such as budgeting lights for softball fields to increase capacity while the skate-park decision is under consideration.
Ending: The council and staff said they will continue outreach, evaluate design and funding options and return with refined cost and funding plans; staff also noted that a decision to build a new facility could rely on grants and external partners to reduce direct city capital costs.
