Don’t Waste Money

On A ‘Precast’ Skate Park

To the Editor:

I’ve been part of supporting a skate park for Newtown since 2000. I’ve been an active skateboarder for over 13 years. I have over ten years experience in swimming pool construction, and I am currently attending college toward a degree in engineering. The reason I’m writing this letter is because of some concerns I have with the Park and Recreation Department not listening to the warning signs of constructing a skate park made out of “precast” materials.

Precast is a type of construction where they pour concrete into molds, these being the shape of skateboard features, then shipping them to where they are needed. The ramps are then puzzled together to form a skate park, and over time the gaps in-between the pieces start to expand. This creates unsafe conditions for skateboarders and in the end, a complete waste of money and energy.

I wrote a letter explaining to the Park and Rec Department how precast material just doesn’t hold up in New England weather and that every park in Connecticut that has been made with the precast has either deteriorated to almost unskateable conditions. In some cases the town has torn down and rebuilt their skate park because precast materials were used. I provided photos along with an explanation of each skate park in Connecticut that is falling apart and they completely dismissed the photos I showed them and has chose to only consider precast construction for the skate park.

To make it clear, I am not with or for any specific company to build the skate park, only that one is made properly and will last a lifetime. I’ve spent ten years now talking to town residents about the need for a skate park. I’ve helped organize fundraisers and have skated in the parade every year on ramps. I put my own money and time into to help raise awareness that Newtown needs a skate park, and now I feel like all that hard work may have been wasted. The skateboarders of Newtown rolled over $20,000 of our hard-earned money from Donate to Skate toward the town’s fund for the skate park.

For the Park and Rec Department to not even consider an alternative on the bidding sheets just shows that they are taking the easiest route and not really taking it to heart that the town not only needs a skate park, but one that will last for future generations of skateboarders.

Lyle Murphy

4 Clearview Drive, Sandy Hook                              February 25, 2010