Skate Park Completion Roughly Two Weeks Away

By Kendra Bobowick

Stretching its jointed mechanical arm like a rainbow Tuesday over the skate park, a truck dispensed wet cement through a hose where crews directed the flow.

Watching town and private crews trudge through the soupy mix, men from Paul Kochiss Concrete Floor Specialists raked and smoothed cement to form the final platform and full bowl — roughly the size of a large in-ground pool — of Newtown’s long-awaited skate park.

With rain in the forecast, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold cannot gauge a precise time-line for the cement to cure. She anticipates that skaters will be able to ride the bowl and use the park in roughly two weeks, once the cement dries and final cleanup and finishing touches take place.

The park’s contours and features are now clear to anyone passing by the corner of Dickinson Park closest to the Brushy Hill Road entrance.

“I am so excited,” Ms Mangold said. “It looks great, and the skaters have been down there saying, ‘Thank you! Thank you!’”

The American Ramp Company (ARC) did previous precast concrete installations early in October.

Funds for the overall $98,000 project come from a combination of sources — $25,000 from budget funds, with the remainder in donations and fundraising efforts.

The park will be a Parks & Recreation Department facility.

Safety Rules & Regulations include: Use of this park is at your own risk. All users assume all risk of injury. The Town of Newtown and its agents are not responsible for injuries of any type. When you enter this facility you assume all risks and responsibilities which could result in serious physical injury.

Park hours are 8 am until 30 minutes after sunset.

Skating is not permitted when surface is wet and/or frozen.

Skate park is for skateboarding, rollerblading, and biking only. All other uses prohibited.

Spectators are not allowed in skate park area and should watch from the perimeter of skate park area for safety.

Proper use of safety equipment (helmets, knee pads, elbow pads) is strongly recommended. In accordance with state helmet laws, it is again strongly recommended that all skaters wear a helmet while riding in the park.

Tagging or graffiti is strictly prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted.

Drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, and glass containers are strictly prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted.

No unauthorized pieces of equipment, obstacles or apparatus may be brought into the skate area.

Anyone under the age of 10 must be supervised by an adult. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 10 not use skateboards without close adult supervision and that children younger than 5 not use them at all.

Shirts are required at all times.

Honor the carry-in, carry-out policy by leaving the park cleaner than you found it.

No pets are allowed in Dickinson Park or the skate area.

Fighting, profanity, loud music or rude, disruptive behavior will result in ejection from the park.

Last but not least, have fun.