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After decades-long wait, skaters get a park of their own

Date: 8/23/2013

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE – It took more than 20 years to come to fruition, but on Aug. 20, the skateboarders of Holyoke had a place of their own.

Mayor Alex Morse officially opened the new skateboard park, which is now a feature of Pulaski Park. There were give-aways to city skaters as well as demonstrations by Alex Maldonado of Holyoke.

Dozens of skaters waited their turn to try the connected concrete bowls as well as another area that ended with a concrete tower. While some skater’s falls elicited winces from the crowd, the phrase “nice air” was heard to salute a good maneuver.

Terry Sheppard, director of the Parks and Recreation Department told Reminder Publications that a skateboard park has been discussed in the city since the administration of Mayor Daniel Szostkiewicz in the mid-1990s.

Sheppard said a group of more than 40 skaters met with city officials over the winter at three public meetings about the proposed skate park.

The new facility cost the city $250,000 and was funded though an allocation of Community Development Block Grant money by Mayor Alex Morse. Sheppard said the city received about $140,000 back from the state’s PARK program.

She noted that Pulaski Park was deemed the best location for the skate park and in the last several years has seen the additions of a spray park, a basketball court and a playground.

“It’s a nice fit,” Sheppard said.