The public got their first look at the skate park planned for Middletown earlier this month before the township Board of Supervisors.
Paul Kopera, the assistant director of the parks and recreation department in Middletown, presented the design and explain the recent progress of the park. Kopera was joined by a number of community advocates and volunteers who have been working for the new skate park at Middletown Community Park.
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On July 15, the board awarded a design contract to 5th Pocket Skateparks, a local skate park design and construction firm run by Langhorne local Jesse Clayton. Since then, Clayton designed the park, held two separate public meetings to receive public comment and created a detailed materials list for township officials.
The result of Clayton’s work is an 8,000-square-foot skate park that embodies what it means to be a skater, Clayton explained.
“This skate park design reflects skateboarding that is taking place on the east coast,” Clayton started. “I think it is going to be something that offers a lot for all different types of skaters, while still catering to the history of east coast skating.”
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The new skate park’s elevated midsection is a direct reflection of the plaza types of skating that many on the east coast grew up skating, Clayton explained.
The detailed materials list will allow skate park committee members to solicit in-kind donations from local businesses, making the overall fundraising project a little easier, coordinators hope.
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Meanwhile, the fundraising effort for the roughly $200,000 project continues. The group has launched an online campaign to supplement additional efforts to raise the funds. As of earlier this year, almost $20,000 had been raised and the township promised to pitch in $100,000 once a similar amount was raised privately.
A former skate park stood at Middletown Community Park from 2004 to 2014. It was closed and removed due to problems that arose to its age.
