Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What is a skatepark?

A. A skatepark is a publicly sanctioned recreational facility that has specialized structures for citizens to safely and legally participate in skateboarding.

Q. How will the park be funded?

A. As of now the town of Newton has not committed any funds to the project. The Newton Skatepark Group (NSG) will be pursuing donations through a variety of ways including private donations, fundraisers, grants, in-kind donations, and volunteer labor.

Q. How much will this cost?

A. The answer to this question depends on a lot of different factors. How much land we can get donated from the town will greatly affect the final cost. A concrete skatepark at full price can run anywhere from $15-$25 per square foot with the average being $20/sq ft. The more raw material we can get donated, the further down the price goes. Also, if we can get services such as excavating and masonry work donated, we will be able to reduce the price greatly. We would like to have a facility of approx 15,000 sq ft.

Q. Who will maintain the park?

A. A properly designed concrete skateboard park requires very little maintenance. It will require regular inspections to ensure that there are no unsafe conditions. It will also require routine trash pickup. There are concrete skateparks that have been around for many years and have required only minor repairs and an occasional power washing. One person from the towns parks department could cover the maintenance in approximately one half hour per day.

Q. Where will the park be located?

A. We would like to have it in a central location within the town. There is a small field next to the in-line hockey rink at Memory Park that would be ideal. We are open to any other suggestions so please feel free to contact us if you have an idea.

Q. Are skateparks noisy?

A. No. Paul Van Orden, of Portland’s Office of Planning and Development Review conducted an in-depth study of noise impacts from a skateboard park. To summarize, he measured that a skatepark would produce sound levels of 59-65 dBA at a distance of 50 feet from the park. He compared this sound level to the level of a moderate conversation between two individuals. You can read the full report HERE (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Q. Isn’t skateboarding dangerous?

A. Statistically, skateboarding is less dangerous than most of the major stick-and-ball sports. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics there are fewer reported emergency room visits then baseball, football, softball, and soccer. (see graph below) A large number of these skateboard injuries come from unsafe conditions such as unclean and uneven surfaces (rocks and debris). The worst accidents usually happen when a child is hit by a car when skateboarding in the street or in a parking lot. A skateboard park would prevent these conditions and reduce the potential for injury.

Q. Why Should I care about skateboarding?

A. We all know about the growing threats to our children. Gangs, drugs and violence have already started to creep their way in to our small community. Kids today need to be encouraged to stay out of trouble more then ever. A well-designed skateboard facility might be just the thing that keeps a kid from going down the wrong path. Kids are looking for alternatives to traditional stick-and-ball sports and right now skateboarding is #1 according to the National Sporting Goods Association. We need to cultivate an atmosphere of support and let these kids know that we care about them.

Q. How can I help?

A. Any way you can! More then anything we need money, and the kids of Newton will be grateful for anything you can offer. We are a 501 (3)(c) non-profit organization so any donations are tax deductible.

  There are many other ways that we could use your support. We need volunteers to help with planning and organizing fundraisers.

  We also need enthusiastic people to advocate for the project. Are you a kid under the age of 19? We especially want to hear from you!

  If you are skilled in any of the following trades and you are interested in donating time, please let us know. We can use excavators, masons, electricians, carpenters, grant writers, engineers, architects, etc… If you think you have something to add to the project, we want to hear from you. The end result of this project will come from the collective efforts of all volunteers.