RRSpin - Skatepark slated for spring opening

Tuesday, 24 November 2015 16:46

Skatepark slated for spring opening

Written by Lance Martin

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Site prep continues.

A grand opening for the Roanoke Rapids skate park under construction at T.J. Davis is slated for the spring, Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said today.

Site preparation by the city's Public Works Department started last week and is expected to last some four to six weeks before Artisan Skateparks begins the construction phase, which is slated to last around three months.

Getting the skatepark to this point was a community effort which began with public meetings on the county's recreation master plan where a skatepark was one of the most requested facilities, Simeon said. “We had children turn in drawings and letters pleading for a skatepark. The police department has also been a part of the process as they have received numerous calls and complaints from businesses where kids were just trying to find a place to skate.”

From there the process led to community meetings with a group consisting of several veteran skateboarders. “We could see the skatepark coming to fruition. Between the donations from sponsors and the community, the committee was able to secure $25,000 toward the skatepark.”

Design renderings

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With $25,000 in donations, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust stepped in with a $125,000 grant. “Kate B. Reynolds became involved because they liked the community involvement and contacted us on how they could support the project. In my opinion the process was textbook on how the involvement of the community, the master plan and the project came to fruition,” Simeon said.

The 90-feet by 100-feet park will incorporate replicas of two elements favored by Roanoke Rapids skaters — the steps of Kirkwood Adams and the railings of the high school.

The park will have an element where young skaters can learn to grind and it will also feature elements for advanced skateboarders.

Simeon said the advanced skateboarders are happy with the final design. “I can't thank Jesse Newton, Mason Hargrave and Daniel McElwee enough for their effort and time and contribution to the skatepark.”

Ed Liverman, chair of the city's recreation advisory committee, said, “You get one chance to do it right and it's been done right.”

Simeon said he and Lori Medlin, president of the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau, are working on a grand opening for the park, which will include the community organizers and sponsors.

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