As the City of Keene rolls toward the construction of a new skatepark, young adults in the community agreed that it is time for skateboarders to have a safe spot in the community to practice and test their skills.
According to the Keene City Parks and Recreation website, the Keene Skate Park opened on Saturday, July 26, 1997.
The creation of the skate park was a 1 1/2 year effort which began when two youths wrote to the Keene City Council. Almost seven years later, others in the community have proposed plans for a newer, safer skate park to Keene’s City Council, Kyle Jarvis of The Keene Sentinel noted, “The capital improvement program identifies a new, 3,250-square foot skate park as a project for fiscal year 2015 at a cost of $162,500.”
Senior Joe Gallo explained that he used to skateboard, but now mostly longboards around Keene and the Keene State College campus.
Sam Lewis / Equinox Staff:
Talk of a new, safe skatepark in Keene is clarified by Kyle Jarvis of The Keene Sentinel who noted, ““The capital improvement program identifies a new, 3,250-square foot skate park as a project for fiscal year 2015 at a cost of $162,500.”
“I think that if they made a nice skatepark, it would probably bring together some of that crowd [of people who skateboard], I think it would be good because there’s a lot of skateboarders out there,” Gallo said.
KSC alumni Matt Evans, who graduated in 2013, said that he had used the original skatepark often.
Evans, a self-proclaimed skateboarder of more than ten years, said that he believed certain changes were in order to make a skatepark that was safer and better for users.
“It [the skate park and ramps] shouldn’t be made out of wood. That is hazardous,” Evans said.
He said that he believed the plans to make a safer skatepark were a “very good idea.” Evans added, “I’ve seen people who have fallen and gotten hurt from skating on terrible ramps.”
Evans explained that outside of the park, skateboarders face controversy when skating throughout the Keene area.
”I feel like people in Keene do view skating negatively — especially people who work for the city. They see the damage caused by street skating and damage done to the park first hand. But I think there will always be that stereotype pretty much anywhere you go. I think it’s unfair just because a few bad eggs ruin it for everyone else,” Evans said.
He continued, “Personally, I think the problem stems from the younger generations. I think they don’t realize that their actions have consequences.”
KSC sophomore Pat Lank similarly stated that a new skatepark would be beneficial for skaters in the community.
Although Lank said that he was mainly a longboarder he said he thought that Keene was not skateboard friendly and added, “The skatepark here is not very nice at all.”
Lank said he agreed with the community plans to build a new park and suggested various changes to make the new park safer and more accessible for skaters.
He said that he thinks the skatepark should have “a bowl, some more quarter-pipes and a better half pipe.”
Lank added that he thinks those creating or upgrading the skatepark should make sure safety concerns, like risen nails, and rough edges on ramps and half-pipes are fixed. He continued that he would like to see more open space in the park, or even a bigger park.
In addition, Lank further explained that a new skatepark would allow skateboarders more skating equipment than they could find in the City of Keene.
“When you’re using the buildings and the equipment that’s around you and people don’t allow you to use it — well, it makes skating not really that fun. The entire community around Keene seems to not want skaters riding around and yelling at them. It’s not friendly towards skaters,” Lank said.
“I think, if they are going to spend the money on a new skate park they should do it right and not cut corners. Wooden parks don’t work in New England as you can tell for the Keene skatepark,” Evans said.
Evans continued, “ They need to make an all concrete park with both transitional and street course elements. The reason why skaters venture out of the park is to get variety. If the city incorporates street elements, like ledges, stair sets, handrails along with half pipes, quarter pipes and mini-ramps. It will keep the skaters in the park and out of downtown Keene.”
Pamela Bump can be contacted at pbump@keene-equinox.com