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Citizen petition to rebuild Bedford skate park heads to ballot amid mixed views
Summary
A citizen petition asking voters to fund an $800,000 rebuild of the Bedford skate park will appear on the March ballot. Petitioners stressed youth programming and a long‑lived facility; some residents questioned timing and competing needs for capital funds.
A citizen‑initiated warrant (Article 11) asking the town to raise $800,000 to reconstruct the Bedford skate park was discussed at the Jan. 14 meeting. The petition would use $88,000 in private donations, $234,000 from an existing recreation field capital reserve, and $478,000 from unassigned fund balance; the petition text specifies no tax impact for the 2026 operating year.
Ian Moultonbrae, who spoke for the petitioners, said the current facility is outdated and unsafe and described the planned design as intentionally sized and costed ($800,000) to serve beginners and experienced users. Supporters argued the park offers inclusive, low‑cost recreation and cited usage benefits for youth. Opponents and some councilors questioned prioritization given competing capital needs and urged voters to consider the package on its merits at deliberative session. The council noted it cannot amend or block a citizen petition from appearing on the ballot but may offer a recommendation later if it chooses to do so.
