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Local volunteers seek approval for Benny Goodman skate park expansion
Summary
Organizers presented a conceptual design and fundraising update for an expanded Benny Goodman skate park, citing community fundraising, grants and a $20,000 Tony Hawk Foundation grant; commissioners signaled support and agreed to place a general plan on the next voting session for formal consideration.
Organizers of a proposed expansion to the Benny Goodman skate park presented commissioners with a design package and fundraising update and asked the commission for support to move into construction planning.
Amanda Dorr, who identified her address as 210 House Street, told the commission the group presented a conceptual design package completed by WET this summer and has raised nearly half of an original $500,000 fundraising target through community contributions, grants and local fundraising. "A lot has happened with our skate park project over the last few years and we're very excited to give you some updates," Dorr said.
Tony Bartletti, 215 Hickory Street, described the planned footprint changes and construction impacts, saying the existing park is "around 5,200 square feet, and we would add" roughly 6,500 square feet more in the current budgeted footprint. Bartletti warned construction would require temporary site work and likely replacement of the chain-link fence and some lights and irrigation infrastructure.
County leadership and commissioners praised the grassroots fundraising and said the county would help with some costs. A county official noted the county had set aside about $50,000 to help offset park-related costs and encouraged the organizers to return to the commission with a general plan. "Don't let it bother you," a commissioner said in support of the volunteers' efforts.
Several residents spoke during public comment in favor of the expansion, citing youth engagement and volunteer labor. Eli Smith, who said he lives at 250 McKenna, described a cleanup day run by local children and offered to donate and build a gazebo. Lisonbee Doherty said she supported recreation development "especially for the teens," adding that local teenagers benefit from supervised recreation.
Next steps: commissioners asked organizers to bring a general plan to the next meeting for placement on the commission's voting agenda. No formal vote or funding appropriation occurred at the meeting; commissioners discussed placing the matter on the next regular or special meeting agenda for formal consideration.
