The skateboarding area at Joe Stephenson Park is in need of renovations.
The Bayfield skate park needs to replace deteriorating ramps, and concrete pathways need to be smoothed out after being chipped as a result of weathering, according to town manager Katie Sickles.
Parks director Mark Robinson said in a forwarded email to The Durango Herald that the “concrete has been cracked for some time,” but those cracks have “widened” over the past year to where it’s causing safety issues with skateboard wheels.
“The new equipment will have a round railing structure. The current equipment is old and does require a lot more maintenance. We would remove the old equipment with the backhoe and most likely recycle it,” he said, adding that the concrete repairs can be done in a day’s time when temperatures are warm.
The new equipment can then be placed, which Robinson also expects to take one day to complete. He said that could be done in May 2025, depending on the town vendor’s schedules.
When and if the money becomes available, the plan is use $52,000 in town capital improvement fund dollars to address those issues, and the goal is to have both fixed sometime in 2025, Sickles said.
Mary Benson, who coordinates action items for Bayfield’s Citizens Park and Recreation Committee, said she has received feedback that the skate park is “well used” in town. She also said she has received “open-ended” feedback from residents who want to see the skate park have a flat surface area for the younger children.
Aside from youngsters reaping the physical and mental benefits of the skate park, Benson also believes seeing improvements to the skate park could help draw in more young people, which could in turn help businesses at nearby Mill Street in the event those young people may want to grab a bite to eat after skating.
“It could only help the small businesses on Mill Street economically,” she said, adding another subsequent draw may include skaters deciding to check out any block parties or other events that may be happening on Mill Street at that time.
Benson also said that if children are able to hang out at the skate park more often, it’ll “get them face-to-face with each other” and allow to them to build friendships via an activity where there’s a common interest.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
