Council split on skate park locale

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July 18, 2008

By TRICIA NEAL, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Fri Jul 18, 2008, 05:19 PM EDT

Somerset — Somerset city council members are divided over whether a future skateboarding and rollerblading park should be located near the entrance to SomerSplash water park.

The council voted 8-3 to continue with plans to construct the facility on the property where SomerSplash and the Cal Ripken baseball fields are located, but councilors who are opposed to the idea say it’s a bad move for the City of Somerset.

Plans for a skate park have been in the works for several months.

A community meeting held several weeks ago to discuss possible locations for the park led planners to believe that land near the water park on Ky. 2227 would be the best site. However, the fact that most local skateboarders gather in the downtown Somerset area caused other city officials to believe that the park should be located downtown. Community planner Nick Bradley said potential properties downtown were either “too small or ... not buildable.”

Materials for the construction of the park have been ordered and concrete is ready to be poured. Planners were originally hoping to have the park completed by late this month, but concerns expressed by some city councilors delayed progress.

“I’m strongly against putting it in front of the water park,” council member Jim Mitchell said.

“I think that’s the worst place you can put it.”

Following the meeting, Mitchell said he felt the city could have used the money being spent on the skate park in better ways.

“There’s not that many (skateboarders),” he said.

“There may be 15 or 20 of them downtown, and we’re spending $100,000 for a park for them. I would have liked to see the money be used in other ways. ... They could have used that money more wisely.”

Mitchell added that, if the city is determined to build the skate park, he would have at least wanted it to be located downtown, perhaps in the Rocky Hollow area.

“(Downtown) is where they’re at,” Mitchell said, referring to the skateboarders.

“It would be more utilized downtown.”

Councilor John Ricky Minton agreed with Mitchell.

“I would hate to see it put right at the entrance,” he said.

Council member Pat Bourne noted that most skateboarders he sees downtown are too young to drive, and he wondered how they would be able to get to the Ky. 2227 location.

Planners say a bus would be available to take the skateboarders from the downtown area to the skate park, however.

Council member Steve Kelley said he believes the water park is the best location for the skate park.

“I think it will be an asset there. ... People will be amazed when they see the stunts these skateboarders can do. It really gets your attention. I think it will be a draw — people will stop and watch it for 20 or 30 minutes,” Kelley said after Monday’s meeting.

“The committee that met to discuss alternatives for the park thought that (the water park location) would be the most logical, most used place. It’s already a gathering spot for youth (with the water park and baseball fields nearby.)”

Council member Jerry Burnett, who serves on the planning committee for the skate park, said he was aware that there had been some concerns about the park “looking bad” at the entrance to SomerSplash.

“I still support having it at the front of the water park,” he said.

Those in favor of locating the skate park at SomerSplash said the necessary utilities and camera systems are already in place there — and that utilities such as water and electric lines would have to be installed in any downtown locations.

Once the skate park is open for business, the council plans to pass an ordinance prohibiting skateboarding downtown.

In other city business:

• The council approved the acceptance of the lowest bids on chemicals for SomerSplash water park. Councilor Pat Bourne also asked water park manager Stephen Sims whether an accidental chemical release which injured five individuals earlier this month had been resolved. Sims said the “mechanical problem” had been resolved and that the water park had complied with all recommendations made by the local health department. Councilor David Childers said he had heard mostly positive comments about the water park this summer.

• Mayor Girdler said road work on South Main Street should be complete by August 15.

• The council approved a contract for sewer line extension work with Weddle Enterprises in the amount of $30,500. Council members appeared to be pleased with the low bid from Weddle. The sewer line work will be done on Old Monticello Road.

• Citizen Richard Fox told council members Monday that he was concerned about uneven sidewalks and some trees and shrubs that have grown over sidewalks in various parts of town. Fox, who is legally blind, said individuals often park on the sidewalks in some areas as well. Mayor Girdler said the city police department would start issuing citations to those who are found to be parking on sidewalks, and he said he would make sure property owners were told to trim their trees and shrubs out of the way of sidewalks.

• Councilor Pat Bourne complained that the trash and weeds accumulating in an area of Ogden Street are unsightly. Councilor Jim Rutherford said Ogden Street is maintained by the state road department.

• Councilor Steve Kelley asked the police department to help patrol the area of North Ky. 1247 near Ky. 80 more strictly. Kelley said large trucks have been speeding through the area.

• The council entered into an executive session to discuss property acquisition. No action was taken during the session.

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