Future of Skate Park under Discussion

A Staybridge Suites Hotel project was announced in early June for downtown Montgomery, but it comes at the cost of the city’s downtown skate park.

The skatepark closed in July and now the skating community wants to know when a new one will be built.

Justice Griffin says the skate park played a big role in his childhood.

“That’s what that skate park did, it made a family,” he explained,” that they broke apart because they wanted to sell that land.”

Alabama News Network took their concerns to Mayor Todd Strange who says a new skate park is an issue that is still under discussion.  He says they estimate building a new park would cost three or four hundred thousand dollars.

Strange says that money could instead go to pay city employees and help pave roads.
He is asking people in the skating community what they can do to help.

“The skateboard community and those that have products that skateboarders use they might want to make a contribution to help along with matching some of the city funds,” he said.

Possible locations for a new skate park include Lagoon Park and Gunter Park.