Just a “Pipe Dream”?

    On June 21, International Skateboarding Day, the HK Skate Park Rally and Kick-Off Meeting joined adults and kids in support of a Haddam-Killingworth skate park. 

    Mary Keithan, who is leading the charge along with a committee of seven students, explained that the potential skate park is a combined effort of those in Killingworth and Haddam.

    The goal is not only “to provide a recreational facility that is safe for skateboarders of all ages and skill levels to practice their sport,” but also “to promote a drug-free environment that will improve fitness, health, and self-esteem and to build camaraderie among participants,” she said. 

    Keithan’s 15-year-old skateboarder son George wanted to build a “monster structure–a half-pipe” in the driveway, inspiring his mother to come up with other options. Keithan drives her son to parks in Clinton and Guilford and has gone as far as Groton and Woodbridge. Her son, she says, “is my inspiration for having a skate park closer to home.”

    Keithan sent out an informal e-mail survey to gauge interest. It didn’t take long to get positive responses. 

    “Word got around. I started getting letters from people in both Haddam and Killingworth who were very passionate about wanting a skate park.”

    At that point, it wasn’t about her son anymore.

    “It started to evolve into something else when I suddenly realized there are a lot of people–parents and kids–who really want a skate park,” she said.

    More than 100 people signed on with either a petition or an e-mail. Keithan organized the rally/meeting “so that people will really step up to the plate and get this going–community leaders and town officials.”

    She initiated a study of the 50 skate parks throughout Connecticut with surveys and emails. She has met with the Park and Recreation Commission and begun informal discussions with the Land Use Committee, the Board of Education, and the Board of Finance. There is a student committee of seven individuals from Haddam and Killingworth who are skateboarders of all different levels. Kim White, a marketing manager, will chair the Fundraising Committee. 

    More than 70 people attended the kick-off meeting in the Old Town Hall, including parents, skateboarders, and a few BMX bike riders. A slide show presentation covered the basics about what a skate park is, what size would be most suitable for the two towns to share, and the cost. The presentation was set to the song Over the Rainbow sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, chosen because Keithan has been told that having an HK Skate Park is just a "pipe dream."

    For safe skateboarding, a 1,500 square foot area is required per person. Approximately 8,000 square feet would be needed for HK Skate Park. Not including land, the suggested budget is $300,000.

    Connecticut State Senator Edward Meyer spoke about the STEAP Grant as a possibly avenue to help with funding and the benefits a skate park has for a community.

    HK Park and Recreation Department Director Frank Sparks said that a skate park would be treated like any other recreational facility. Sparks is very interested in teaching kids how to skateboard but the Park and Recreation Department needs the facility to do so. He said that youth have many activities that involve adults and parents who are organizing and supervising activities for them. Having an unsupervised recreational activity for youth, he believes, has a great deal of value and is needed.

    Board of Education Vice-Chair Michael Trahan mentioned that although he was not at this event in an official capacity, he was fully supportive of having a skate park built in Regional District 17. Trahan feels that this endeavor is a true "grassroots effort" and titled Keithan as a "community activist".

    Trahan had invited Chris Kyttles, a professional skateboarder to demonstrate to the kids and Sunset Bay Surf Team, which also displayed impressive skateboarding skills. Local skate shop Cutting Edge donated a skateboard and T-shirts for the raffle.

    There was a quarter pipe, double-box ramp, and a rail in the back parking lot for the kids to skateboard on.

    “They all skated for nearly two hours. Many skaters came to me wanting to know how they can get involved. They also said they had a great time and wanted to plan another skateboard rally soon,” Keithan noted. 

    The next step is meeting with town officials from both Haddam and Killingworth “to help us find the right location and discuss the finances,” she said. “Most important, we need to form committees and gather support in order to make this skate park become a reality.”

    The next meeting will be held within the next two months.