- Easton City Council on Wednesday heard a presentation for a proposed skate park on Lehigh Drive
- The park would be 10,000 square feet, and include street- and transition-style installments
- Dozens of supporters packed council chambers to show support, and several council members expressed that they would love to help achieve the goal
EASTON, Pa. — Easton’s City Hall was jam-packed for a new skate park proposal during Wednesday’s City Council meeting, offering a pitch for a place where anyone at any skill level can enjoy themselves.
A team consisting of Corey Brunetti (who co-owns the Northampton Street skate shop Five and Dime with his brother, Chip Black), Jake Baldini and Bill McWilliams gave a presentation pitching a new skate park intended for Lehigh Drive.
A vibrant community of fellow skaters came with them for support.
Early estimates for the project place total square-feet at 8,000 to 10,000, with a price tag of $440,000 to $550,000.
“We're looking at this from the perspective of the citizens of the city being able to use this park — kids that don't drive, that can't drive to a skate park somewhere outside the city. This location is central — a kid can get on their bike and coast downhill and end up at the skate park.”Skatepark proponent Bill McWilliams
The group said upkeep costs for a modern skatepark are remarkably low, and patrons often maintain the property themselves.
The organizers are eyeing 507 Lehigh Drive, which currently serves as a parking lot, on which to build.
“The reason that we're looking at that specific location is the vicinity to Downtown and also the West Ward and South Side,” McWilliams said.
“We're looking at this from the perspective of the citizens of the city being able to use this park — kids that don't drive, that can't drive to a skate park somewhere outside the city.
"This location is central — a kid can get on their bike and coast downhill and end up at the skate park.”
Looking to be usable
Mayor Sal Panto Jr., whom the group credited with pointing them in the direction of the underutilized lot, later clarified that the lot encompasses about 50,000 square feet.
That means if the park were to be built there, plenty of space would be left to park buses and vehicles for downtown attractions.
McWilliams also said the area's walkability provides an added bonus to parents who wish to keep their children entertained for a bit while they shop and tackle other responsibilities.
"You go to the farmers market, you could walk your kid over, drop them off and head back to the farmers market for shopping."Skatepark proponent Bill McWilliams
“Also, it's very walkable from Downtown, and there's already an asphalt path that leads you right there," McWilliams said. "You go to the farmers market, you could walk your kid over, drop them off and head back to the farmers market for shopping."
Being Bethlehem and Allentown already have skate parks, the trio of presenters pushed the idea that Easton could be next, providing a place for city skaters to enjoy their sport without having to travel.
Potential funding sources could include getting 501c3 nonprofit status to acquire grants, including a possible DCNR grant intended for recreation and conservation planning.
The backers said they also are exploring fundraising efforts, private donations, and pop-up events to raise cash.
'Your city is a skatepark'
Panto, clearly a proponent of the initiative — along with Councilwoman Taiba Sultana, who expressed support, and Councilman-elect Frank Pintabone, who has been working alongside the group — said funding could potentially be sourced from Parks and Recreation funding.
“All these new developments Downtown pay about $750 per bed that they build into our open space and recreation [funding], but they can only be used for Parks and Recreation," Panto said.
"So this is where we would get, as we talked about earlier, we would tap that for some of that."
In the presentation, the group explained the mission to craft a “high quality, permanent concrete skatepark with both street- and transition-style components,” including ramps, rails, boxes and transition features.
The park would be free and open to the public, but with a “use at your own risk” caveat.
"If you don't have a skate park, and you have, obviously, there's skateboarders, there's BMXers, and there's not a place to go, we end up on public space."Skatepark proponent Bill McWilliams
Americans with Disabilities Act accessible features “for all abilities and wheels” is planned, in addition to areas for entertainment, concessions and events.
A frame during the presentation said, “If you don’t have a skate park, your city is the skate park.”
“That’s not meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but really — if you don't have a skate park, and you have, obviously, there's skateboarders, there's BMXers, and there's not a place to go, we end up on public space," McWilliams said.
"Which is a problem, I would assume, for you guys, because it's public space. It's a problem for us, because we don't have a place to go, which is why we're here tonight."
'All walks of life'
McWilliams thanked the Easton skating community in Easton, which filled nearly every seat and packed the back of council chambers, for its support.
Baldini emphasized the prominence of skateboarding, BMX and other sports that could be housed at the park, and said the location could also serve as a communal center.
“I know people from all walks of life who ride skateboards, and BMX bikes and scooters, and they all do it together,” Baldini said. “There could be a doctor who's 50 and a kid that's just starting out in the same place doing it.
"Hopefully, one day I think that's the main point of this slide, is that it really brings people together as a community.”Skatepark proponent Jake Baldini
"And hopefully, one day I think that's the main point of this slide, is that it really brings people together as a community.”
Melody Rogers, president of the South Side Civic Association, expressed concern the property to turn into a haven for crime and drug use. She said police patrols and surveillance cameras should be utilized to keep “this wonderful, beautiful place” from going into disrepair.
Andy Po, owner of Homebase Skateshop in Bethlehem, replied to suggestions that crime and drug use are rampant among those who patronize skate parks, saying those individuals care enough to invest their own funding to maintain the properties.
“Those problems did not come from the users, and I wholeheartedly believe that if this project happens, the users will take care of their spaces, because you see it in Bethlehem, you see it in Allentown, and you even see it at the park," Po said.
"A lot of these people were taking their own finances to build over in Phillipsburg. So I just wanted that to be on the record because I feel like it was never said."
Sultana offered to connect presenters to a potential funder.
“Clearly, there's a big following — this is just a fraction of the community,” McWilliams said, gesturing toward his fellow skaters. “And this is also a multi-use facility, so it's skateboards, rollerblades, bikes, scooters. This is for everybody.”
