Council members consider repaving Norwich skate park
Common council members recently voted to transfer $25,000 in funds to go toward repaving of the skate park in Norwich. The project will need to be presented during a common council meeting for a final vote before restoration efforts can begin. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)
NORWICH — The 20 year old skate park in Norwich may be getting a facelift. Council members weighed the pros and cons during their August 3 joint committees meeting, and voted to transfer $25,000 in funds to cover the cost of the project.
Council members discussed the popularity of the skate park, and the possibility that despite repaving efforts, locals may not use it.
"How do we know what the demand is gonna be?" asked Alderman David Zieno. "We've talked about, a lot about pickleball, because we had a lot of comments about that. I have never heard anybody ask about, you know, when am I gonna be able to use the skate park?"
Alderman Matthew Caldwell said he's had inquiries on the state of the skate park, and that he feels the activity is making a comeback.
"I have observed that it seems to be kind of making a comeback in a recreational sense," he said. "I think it's becoming more of a recreation sport. Especially now that people are seeing it, you know, in the X Games, and some different venues where it's almost a form of exercise in a way. And I think there probably is a draw for it."
Another reason to repave the park: all the skating equipment is already there, and currently unable to be used due to the conditions of the pavement.
"You also have all of the equipment, too, and then it's just sitting there," said Director of Finance Dee DuFour. "It's awful not to use all of the equipment that we have invested in, we have maintained. And all of that stuff, that's sitting there locked up because of insurance reasons."
Youth Bureau Director Robert Mason emphasized safety concerns, and said that unless the skate park is repaved, children could get injured.
"In order to keep the place going, keep it in a safe condition, it should be resurfaced. Or somebody's gonna get hurt," he explained. "It does get used, and to keep it in a safe mode it should be resurfaced."
What's more, the $25,000 needed to resurface the park was already budgeted for, according to Caldwell.
"The money was assigned, I believe it was two weeks ago at common council," he said. "They had a contractor happy with the quote and was gonna get this thing taken care of. So yeah, that was the idea, get the funds to get this done."
He said the decision will still need to be presented at a common council meeting for approval, but that he is "sure there will be no objections."
Council members discussed the popularity of the skate park, and the possibility that despite repaving efforts, locals may not use it.
"How do we know what the demand is gonna be?" asked Alderman David Zieno. "We've talked about, a lot about pickleball, because we had a lot of comments about that. I have never heard anybody ask about, you know, when am I gonna be able to use the skate park?"
Alderman Matthew Caldwell said he's had inquiries on the state of the skate park, and that he feels the activity is making a comeback.
"I have observed that it seems to be kind of making a comeback in a recreational sense," he said. "I think it's becoming more of a recreation sport. Especially now that people are seeing it, you know, in the X Games, and some different venues where it's almost a form of exercise in a way. And I think there probably is a draw for it."
Another reason to repave the park: all the skating equipment is already there, and currently unable to be used due to the conditions of the pavement.
"You also have all of the equipment, too, and then it's just sitting there," said Director of Finance Dee DuFour. "It's awful not to use all of the equipment that we have invested in, we have maintained. And all of that stuff, that's sitting there locked up because of insurance reasons."
Youth Bureau Director Robert Mason emphasized safety concerns, and said that unless the skate park is repaved, children could get injured.
"In order to keep the place going, keep it in a safe condition, it should be resurfaced. Or somebody's gonna get hurt," he explained. "It does get used, and to keep it in a safe mode it should be resurfaced."
What's more, the $25,000 needed to resurface the park was already budgeted for, according to Caldwell.
"The money was assigned, I believe it was two weeks ago at common council," he said. "They had a contractor happy with the quote and was gonna get this thing taken care of. So yeah, that was the idea, get the funds to get this done."
He said the decision will still need to be presented at a common council meeting for approval, but that he is "sure there will be no objections."
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