2003-03-01 Recreatrion Committee Minutes - Skate Park Report

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Reading Recreation Committee Siting Alternatives for the Reading Skate Park Final Report - March 1, 2003 PURPOSE To identify and rank suitable sites for constructing a Skate Park in Reading. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Bramhall family expressed a strong interest in assisting in the development of a skatepark in Reading. They attended a number of Selectmen's meeting's and at a May 2001 meeting they.had a chance meeting with Mr. Mark Dickenson of Dickenson Development The Bramhalls discussed their long standing interest in a skatepark for Reading with Mr. Dickenson. Mr. Dickenson agreed to help but only after a suitable place to develop the park was identified. In November 2001,a meeting of the Recreation Department Skate Park Subcommittee was held to discuss the conceptual plans for the park including the size and possible locations for the park. In early 2002,in a meeting of the hill Recreation Committee,the concepts and possible locations for the Skate Park were discussed. At the meeting,the Committee passed a motion to recommend to the Selectmen that the Skate Park be sited on the existing tennis courts at Memorial Park. In April 2002,this site was presented to the Selectman for consideration. The Selectmen agreed to have a public hearing to discuss the plan to site the Skate Park on the existing tennis courts at Memorial Park. On June 3,2002,the Selectmen held a public hearing at the Police Station to gage public opinion of the plan. At the conclusion of that well attended meeting,the Selectmen recommended that the Recreation Committee more thoroughly review the alternative locations for the Skate Park. This report provides a more comprehensive review of the alternative locations for the park based on comments made at the public hearing,additional research on possible sites, and the opinions of the recreation committee on the relative merits of a large number of possible sites. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED FACILITY The Skate Park is an action park with implements for enhancing inline skating(AKA rollerbladding),and skateboarding. The minimum dimension for the site are approximately 120' x 120' with a level surface. The facility will be paved with bituminous concrete,and surrounded with 8' to 10' high fencing and a single gate. The arrangement and type and number of implements can vary and can be permanently installed with the possibility of rearranging the positioning of the equipment or moving all of the equipment to an alternative location. The Skate Park will likely include a couple of 3 to 4 foot high wedge boxes,a couple of 2 to 3 foot high jump combos,and two 3 to 4 foot high quarter pipes. Grind rails will also be included as either separate fixtures or attached to the above equipment. This size and arrangement of equipment is most suitable for youths aged 8 to 15 years. These ramps and structures are smaller in height and size than structures typically used for older 15+age groups. Page 1