by WES FERGUSON
Design work is set to begin on the first skatepark between Austin and San Marcos, but not before getting public input on the layout and types of features that local skateboarders want.
More rails? More ramps? Tell city of Buda leaders at a public meeting scheduled for May 2 at Buda Elementary School.
Parks and Recreation Director Jack Jones said it’s important to get skateboarders involved with the plans.
“When kids design a skatepark, they have ownership in the project,” Jones said. “They’ll have more of a say in it, they can take pride in it, and they’ll use it more because it will have the features and amenities they requested.”
City Council members hired Action Sport Development to design and build the Jackson Tyler Norris Memorial Skatepark at their meeting last week with hopes of completing the project by early next year.
The 10,000-square-foot park is being built on two-thirds of an acre south of the elevated water tower on FM 967/Loop 1 just south of the downtown area. The custom, concrete skatepark will be lighted until 10 p.m. and include a restroom and drinking fountain, parking area, benches and a memorial for Jackson Norris, a Hays High School student and avid skateboarder who was struck and killed by a pickup while crossing a street in Lockhart last June.
“Right now there’s really no safe place for kids to congregate and skateboard,” Jones said. “Of course, kids do skateboard all over Buda, but it’s typically prohibited at the places where they like to ride.”
With no great local options, Jones said, his son often must travel to downtown Austin for the nearest park.
“My son lives with me in downtown Buda, so he’ll be going to this skatepark every day, checking it out and hanging out with his friends,” he said.
Police Chief Bo Kidd, a former “skate rat” who could ollie about three feet in the air when he was a teenager, said the park will be a safe place for young people to congregate. When the park opens, will Kidd be dropping into a halfpipe for the skatepark’s inaugural ride?
“It’s been about 25 years since I’ve been on a skateboard, but I’m not going to rule it out,” he said. “Once I see this, you never know, the mood may strike me and you’ll see me out there again.”
Hays County and the city of Buda are splitting the $280,000 cost of the project. For information, contact Jones at 512-312-0084 or [email protected].
Proposed skatepark construction schedule
May 2: Public input will be sought for the skatepark’s design during a special meeting in the Kunkel Room at Buda Elementary School’s upper campus, 300 San Marcos Street. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
May 16: Public input will be sought a second time to review proposed design concepts. The 6:30 p.m. meeting will be at Buda City Hall, 121 Main St.
June 5: City Council will review and possibly approve the design.
June-July: Complete construction documents.
August-September: Bid and award project construction.
October-January: Construction.
January-February: Project completed and grand opening.
