Post by bermshot on Jul 22, 2006 15:21:21 GMT -5
www.bangornews.com/
ORONO - The town again is looking to build a skate park, but wants to reconsider the location that previously was approved.
Two years ago, the council and planning board gave the go-ahead to create a skate park beside the municipal pool. The cost for this option is estimated at about $15,000, and funding currently is available.
The price includes excavation, materials and paving, as well as a park sign, bench and-or trash container.
The second option being considered would ring in at about $37,000 and includes a renovation of the current ice rink facility to accommodate a paved surface for both skateboarding and ice skating, but in a reduced size.
"The ice rink needs some attention," Norm Poirier, director of Parks and Recreation, said Tuesday.
What the council doesn't want to do is "create a new facility that we'll have to maintain in addition to renovating the old ice rink," he said.
With the second option, the rink boards would be reset and repaired and a new gate would be installed.
Poirier has been asked by the Finance Committee to conduct some additional research on location and expense, as well as a broader look at what recreation opportunities currently are being offered by the town to ensure that needs are being met.
"I think what the council doesn't want to do is throw some money into a new location if there's some existing location that needs attention," Poirier said.
A third option is no longer being considered. That alternative was a complete renovation of the existing ice rink that would retain the size of the facility. This option previously was proposed in 1996, but wasn't explored further because of lack of funding.
A complete renovation, which would include resetting posts for the rink boards, staining boards, and paving the surface for both skateboarding and ice skating, is estimated to cost $70,500.
"The disappointing factor in all of this is that the kids might have to wait an additional two or three months at this point," Poirier said. With time for construction it likely will be next year before the rink is open.
ORONO - The town again is looking to build a skate park, but wants to reconsider the location that previously was approved.
Two years ago, the council and planning board gave the go-ahead to create a skate park beside the municipal pool. The cost for this option is estimated at about $15,000, and funding currently is available.
The price includes excavation, materials and paving, as well as a park sign, bench and-or trash container.
The second option being considered would ring in at about $37,000 and includes a renovation of the current ice rink facility to accommodate a paved surface for both skateboarding and ice skating, but in a reduced size.
"The ice rink needs some attention," Norm Poirier, director of Parks and Recreation, said Tuesday.
What the council doesn't want to do is "create a new facility that we'll have to maintain in addition to renovating the old ice rink," he said.
With the second option, the rink boards would be reset and repaired and a new gate would be installed.
Poirier has been asked by the Finance Committee to conduct some additional research on location and expense, as well as a broader look at what recreation opportunities currently are being offered by the town to ensure that needs are being met.
"I think what the council doesn't want to do is throw some money into a new location if there's some existing location that needs attention," Poirier said.
A third option is no longer being considered. That alternative was a complete renovation of the existing ice rink that would retain the size of the facility. This option previously was proposed in 1996, but wasn't explored further because of lack of funding.
A complete renovation, which would include resetting posts for the rink boards, staining boards, and paving the surface for both skateboarding and ice skating, is estimated to cost $70,500.
"The disappointing factor in all of this is that the kids might have to wait an additional two or three months at this point," Poirier said. With time for construction it likely will be next year before the rink is open.