Search For Skate Park Location Lands At Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

When she realized that a skateboarding park might find its initial home at Newtown’s former state hospital campus, resident Lori Capozziello took her pleas to the Fairfield Hills Authority this week.

“We’d like a skate park for the kids, maybe temporarily at the tennis courts at Fairfield Hills; [the park] could be removed later,” she said. Mrs Capozziello anticipates raising funds for and constructing the various ramps and other apparatus used by skateboarders, and then turning it over to the town. She has put her fundraising plans on hold, however, until she is sure the park will have a home.

Hitting the core of the issue, she asked the authority, “Are we going to be able to start a campaign, and will you give us the land for it?”

Also addressing the authority on Mrs Capozziello’s behalf Tuesday was recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian.

“Before we ask [Mrs Capozziello] to go ahead and start fundraising, we need to know there is a location,” she said.

Authority Chairman Robert Geckle explained, “The location is on the fringe of our development zone, so we may need to look at other options out there…” The Fairfield Hills Authority is currently involved with the redevelopment plans for the campus and buildings, establishing a new town hall, cultivating economic development in some of the buildings, constructing a baseball diamond, and improving recreation trails throughout the campus.

Also addressing the authority Tuesday was recreation Chairman Edward Marks. Speaking in favor of revamping the tennis courts to accommodate skateboarding, he said, “It would cost nothing, and we’re asking you to keep an open mind.”

Mr Geckle suggested that a member of his board should have further discussions about the park as they consider the possibilities of providing an outlet for skaters.

Mrs Capozziello first brought her intentions before the Parks and Recreation Commission last week, where members supported her ideas. Recreation members suggested that old tennis courts at Fairfield Hills might provide a temporary location for the park. Parks and Recreation will likely oversee a future park, which Mrs Capozziello intends to give to the town.

Last week, the recreation members considered the spaces available in town when they concluded that Fairfield Hills was the most feasible. Dickinson Park has drawbacks as host to a skating park, Ms Kasbarian explained this week. “We want to do a master plan for Dickinson; before we start putting things there we want to have a professional look at it.” Since the park lost its pond — a longtime favored swimming hole — and a need for updating the playground has become clear, Ms Kasbarian wants to proceed cautiously while reestablishing Dickinson.

“We want to make sure the park has a nice flow to it,” she said. Treadwell Park also fails to meet the skateboarders’ needs, and is already packed with a pool, playing fields, tennis courts, and playground.

The push for a skate park that only began last week has already drawn responses from residents. Mrs Capozziello has already heard from several people interested in volunteering their time. Her husband Chris Capozziello also is willing to help as Mrs Capozziello considers forming a committee. Already she is thinking of one fundraising event for the spring. Already drawn and printed are renderings by local artist Bret Worobel. Mrs Capozziello envisions selling the images through local merchants, where the paper can be displayed with the name of the contributor.

 

Making Her Case

Ms Capozziello continued, “They are already skating in town…” She said that at her own house her sons and their friends gather to skate and often continue late into the night.

Contrary to the image skaters present with longish hair and disheveled clothing, Mrs Capozziello said, “These are good kids. They love it and skate and skate and skate.”

Stressing the need for a park, she said, “This is not a bad thing, it’s a good thing. It’s a healthy thing that we have a safe place for our children instead of on the streets and sidewalks.” Her biggest concern is disappointing the skaters, she said. She can be reached via email at donate2skatelc@aol.com.