IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Bagg, City Planner
jbagg@easthamptonma.gov

City of Easthampton to hold skatepark design meeting on April 11, 2022.

The City of Easthampton will be holding a skatepark design public meeting, in person, at 50 Payson Avenue on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6 p.m. The meeting will occur in the second floor meeting room and people of all ages are encourage to attend to provide their input on the design of the City’s first official skatepark.

Over the past two years a committed group of skateboarders have been exploring sites, raising awareness, gathering support, and raising funds. The group consisting of Angie Falkowski, Eddie Comini, Jeff Burke, Matt Boucher and Noah Halpern-Mcmanus are also forming a non-profit 501C (3) entity to collect additional donations and funds for future maintenance.

In January 2022, the City Council approved funds (from the Community Preservation Act) to hire a consultant to design a skatepark in Easthampton.

“Easthampton’s skatepark project represents a true community effort, bringing a quality recreational opportunity with low economic cost to youth of all ages” said Mayor Nicole LaChapelle.

In cooperation with the Planning Department and the Mayor's office, a potential location behind City Hall and the Public Safety Complex at 32 & 50 Payson Avenue was selected and in February 2022, the City hired the Platform Group to create a design and cost estimate suitable for future grant funds for construction.

“The need for a skatepark was identified in the City's 2021 Open Space and Recreation Plan and the funding for a design marks the City’s commitment to provide an alternative to organized sports”, said City Planner Jeff Bagg.

After the initial design meeting, a second meeting will occur in May or early June in preparation for possible application for construction grants in July.

"The location behind the public safety complex will provide a unique skatepark experience with minimal impacts to parking. It will become another destination for residents and visitors and will contribute to the economic development and draw of downtown Easthampton”, said skatepark organizer Angie Falkowski.

For more information about the project, please go to the Planning Departments Facebook page, or go the City website at: easthamptonma.gov/skatepark.

If you would like to donate to the project, please go to the Easthampton Skatepark page, here.