Casper council fields community anger over K Street skate park demolition, urges help on All Wheels Park

Casper City Councilors addressed heightened community concern this week after the demolition of the K Street skate park, saying the decision followed safety assessments and that the city will work with community groups on a larger All Wheels Park project.

Councilors said the K Street facility had recurring, structural safety problems — holes, exposed rebar and shifting features — and that repeated temporary repairs were no longer a responsible long‑term approach. One councilor said, “continuing to repair it stops being responsible, both from a safety standpoint and a liability standpoint,” and described past efforts that included a roughly $30,000 repair partnership with the Rotary Club in 2023.

Legal counsel told council that simply posting hazard warnings would not eliminate municipal liability for an improved park that the city cannot maintain. "I would not recommend or advise that [posting signs] be a path we take," City Attorney Eric Nelson said, citing the statutory carve‑outs for failure to maintain parks as a potential exposure.

Councilors urged residents upset about the demolition to engage with the Central Wyoming Trails Alliance and other local groups to support the All Wheels Park planned for Mike Cedar Park; the council noted designs have been released and that the project will need volunteer time and fundraising support. Several councilors also suggested a post‑mortem discussion to identify communication lessons and improve outreach on similar projects.

The council said it would welcome public comment at the next regular meeting when All Wheels Park designs and timelines are more fully developed.