POUGHKEEPSIE – The popular but old skateboard arena at Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie shut down suddenly last week after public safety officials found significant problems.
Anticipating some feedback during Monday night’s common council meeting, Mayor Robert Rolison was prepared, with estimates on what it would cost to fix it.
“You’re looking at 16 sub-sheets, 22 top-sheets, some miscellaneous metal repair and some minor paint and sanding which gets to about $18,250. If they replaced all of the sheets and fixed all of the metal, it would be $37,300.”
Rolison said those estimates came from the Connecticut company that originally built the park.
The mayor also said a lot more discussion is needed and fixing it “won’t happen tomorrow.”
Several park users attended the meeting and 15 spoke during public comment.
Winston Bailey recalled starting to skate in 1982 and with other skateboarders,
put on shows at area schools. He said they got early support
from city officials back then for building the park, including former
mayors.
“We had [Mayor Collette] LaFuente really supporting us,” he said, adding school officials also jumped onboard.
Bailey, a DJ, suggested looking at alternate sources of money, including musical events, or even a GoFundMe campaign.
Several young skateboarders spoke. The youngest was Ruth:
“I want to keep the skate park. I mean, there’s a whole community of people who are willing to help.”
Ruth got the biggest applause of the night.
