Holyoke seeks input for Skateboard Park

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Holyoke's Skateboarding Park took another step toward becoming reality Thursday night.

Mike McIntyre, skateboard park architect, told 22news, "You don't have to hit your tail on your board.  You can keep flowing through the park or if you're a street skater, you wanna hit your tail...great!”

30 or 40 skateboarders, who probably understand what that designer just said, looked at different concepts for the skate park that will eventually be built at Pulaski Park in Holyoke.
    
They say, despite the bad rap their sport gets in some circles, they'll be great neighbors.

According to Dan Dziuban, Holyoke Skateboard shop owner, "The park is what we need. Some place to go. Someplace where we can just go and have fun. I think people that are worried about it are gonna think nothing of it within a year after it's built. They're gonna be happy it's there"

"We're not really doing a skate park so much as a park you can skate in. You know, legally and not get arrested. It's gonna be an open barrier, free, inclusive park, so it's not really designated just skate board only," said McIntyre.

McIntyre told 22News they'll meet again in two weeks with drawings incorporating the feedback they heard Thursday night.
    
The quarter million dollar price tag will be funded by a Federal Community Development Block Grant.