On Friday, October 16th the City of Brevard announced the soft opening of a new skatepark located at the municipal Sports Complex at 324 Ecusta Road. This skatepark, made entirely of concrete, will last for generations with minimal maintenance required. The design was truly a product of community input. Local skaters gathered in the Council Chambers just before the COVID-19 pandemic limited public gatherings. People of all skill levels ranked potential skating features in order of their importance. Their input was conveyed directly to the design professionals from Pillar Design Studios, from Phoenix, Arizona and Artisan Skateparks out of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The skatepark is around 4,000 to 5,000 square feet, depending on if the spectator areas are included in the count, but it is designed to be expandable. City leaders approved a $100,000 budget last year for a small, standalone skatepark but future phases were conceptually designed as part of the public input session. The additional phases may be built if funds are raised. The City was able to construct a bigger and better skatepark than originally projected due to in-kind donations. For example, the ABC Board donated $20,000, the Brevard Music Center provided free housing to the construction team and McNeely’s Store & Rental discounted the cost of concrete by 50% through their subsidiary, Toxaway Concrete. The Public Works Department built much of the foundation. Subcontractors, such as First Victory, Inc. and Lynn Goldsmith Landscape Design, provided deep discounts on their labor to provide the finishing touches necessary to create this new feature within our existing City park. Mayor Jimmy Harris, who was responsible for finding a large part of the in-kind donations, recently stated “It’s important to give our citizens as many recreational opportunities as possible to enhance our sense of place. Collaborating with local partners is easy in Brevard, because we’re a financially strong community working together to create small treasures in this special place that we call home.”
The new skatepark will be open every day from dawn to dusk. The “soft opening” comes amid Phase 3 of North Carolina’s COVID-19 restrictions which limit public gatherings. However, parks are permitted to open and independent, outdoor activities are encouraged. The skatepark will be self-regulated, meaning there will not be an attendant stationed on site. The rules and regulations are clearly posted on a predominant sign along with a phone number to call if there are any problems. City leaders are honored to present this latest amenity to the Brevard community.