Riders of skateboards, BMX bikes, and inline skates will soon have a new place to test their mettle, as the City of Niagara Falls opens it’s first-ever skate park.
If you stop by Hyde Park, just north of the splash pad next to the lake, you’ll find piles of grey stone gravel cast into the shapes of half pipes, ramps, and rails. After 20 years of public advocacy for this kind of facility, construction has finally begun. Seth Piccirillo, Director of Community Development for the City of Niagara Falls, said it took so long because no one could get past the idea stage.
“So what we tried to do two years ago was get everybody at the table, figure out a central location, and really make this thing happen,” said Piccirillo.
With input from the city’s police, departments of public works, community development, and the Youth Bureau, the skate park became a reality.
Niagara Falls City Council Chairman Andy Touma said the park is budgeted at about $500,000, but noted that it wouldn’t have been possible without the bulk of funding coming from a federal Community Development Block Grant.
“We’re fortunate that Congressman [Brian] Higgins and others fought for us to continue to get these grants,” said Touma. “We have a certain amount in the budget, obviously, that we can put towards recreational activities and things like this through community development. But without the grant, we couldn’t do something of this size.”
Ten-thousand dollars of the funding came from a grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation, specifically intended to engage young skaters. Touma and other city officials said input from young members of the Niagara Falls community was also crucial to getting the plan for the park off the ground.
Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster was among those who ceremonially broke ground at the park on Thursday afternoon. Dyster said he hopes the world recognizes Niagara Falls as a progressive community, focused on building the infrastructure its youth are demanding.
“We’re also trying to reach out directly, and where we can directly impact the quality of life of our citizens – not in ten years when this economic development cycle works its way, but things that can be meaningful in the lives of kids while they’re still kids,” said Dyster.
Dyster said it’s been a goal of his administration to balance economic development with community development in an effort to improve overall quality of life.
Sites like Gill Creek Park were in the running for the skate park, but ultimately Hyde Park was chosen for its central location.
“Hyde Park is the second largest city park in New York State, only to Central Park,” Piccirillo pointed out. “We want to reinforce this as a jewel in Niagara Falls.”
With a little luck as far as weather goes, the skate park is expected to be opened in September. Then it’s on to other quality of life and recreation improvements like an updated playground on the other side of the lake.
“It’s all about making sure there are amenities and services for everyone, regardless of whatever demographic they’re in, in places that they can reach it,” said Piccirillo.
