POUGHKEEPSIE – As the cities of Middletown and Newburgh prepare
to build skateboard parks, one such park in Poughkeepsie has been in use
for 10 years. It was recently shut down by the city because of safety
concerns and now a group of men and women who use the park, is trying
to raise money to restore it.
Main part of Poughkeepsie skateboard facility is off limits
The first such formal effort was held Saturday at the facility located
at Waryas Park’s north side near the children’s museum.
Skateboarder uses one of the ramps that remains open
The estimated cost to repair it is $18,300 while the cost of replacing
it is $37,300.
Fundraiser Tom Lamoree, known in the community as “Monster,”
is hopeful that the money can be raised to bring it back to life.
“They announced that in the 2020 Olympics, they will be including
skateboarding, so we are very hopeful that the next gold medal Olympians
will be from Poughkeepsie and training right here in this park,”
he said.
Former state senator Terry Gipson, who is in a rematch for his old seat
with incumbent Susan Serino, was at the park to support it.
“I know we need to do more to curb the crime that is in this city
and others but one of the things we can do is make sure that our youth
have different programs to spend their time getting educated, getting
exercise, feeling like they are part of the community and this skate park
here provides an outlet for youth to come and do things that are productive
rather than looking for ways to get in trouble,” he said.
Lamoree said he has been given a verbal commitment from City Hall that
if the group can raise the funding to rebuild the park, officials would
keep it open.
