Skateboard Park Meeting Rescheduled

Talks about a new skateboard park near Westchase will resume on July 17, according to an announcement made by the county today.

The meeting to discuss the $600,000 project had been scheduled for June 26, but was canceled due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Debby.

As , the county is proposing the construction of a skateboard park like the ones recently built in Brandon and Apollo Beach.

The Northwest park would be constructed in Jackson Springs Park, which is about six miles from Westchase off Sheldon Road. The public meeting will be held at Jackson Springs Recreation Center, 8620 Jackson Springs Road at 6:30 p.m. on July 17.

A couple weeks ago we asked our Facebook readers if Westchase could use a skateboard park. And the answer was "Yes!" according to reader Wanda Barnett Fertig.

Sounds good, but it's not feasible, said Steve Valdez, Hillsborough County Public Works spokesman.

"There’s no land to begin with," Valdez said. "Number two, we got very close to Westchase right at Waters and Sheldon and that went up in flames."

In 2010, the Waters and Sheldon Road skateboard park proposal was met opposition by a nearby mobile home retirement community, who feared noise and crime would result.

Westchase is a private development. Over the years, the community has donated land to the county to build things like the fire station, park and library. But without donated land, the county would have to purchase it.

"We’re trying to find places that we already have property because we can't afford to buy the land and build it," Valdez said about the skateboard park.

The proposed skateboard park includes the construction of a 10,000-square-foot outdoor concrete structure. The estimated design and construction cost for is approximately $600,000, to be paid for through county park and impact fees.

County staff will be at the July 17 meeting to answer any questions residents may have. Public comment is welcome. 

Want to go?

What:   Northwest Skateboard Park Public Meeting

When:  Tuesday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Jackson Springs Recreation Center, 8620 Jackson Springs Road in Tampa

What do you think about the park? Let us know in the comments section.