Politics & Government

Town 'N Country Skateboard Park Rolls Closer to Final Approval

A Northwest Skateboard Park has finally found a home in Town 'N Country.

We that Jackson Springs Park (just east of Sheldon Road) was being considered as the location for a new county-funded skateboard park.

The 10,000-square-foot park would be constructed northeast of the Jackson Springs Recreation center at 8620 Jackson Springs Road.

About 75 people attended the July public meeting about the park. At that meeting, county officials said they would solicit public input via email and phone calls over the following 30 days. Since then, county officials say there's been an overwhelming positive response to the park location.

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"We've received about 20 emails, and comments," said Steve Valdez, spokesman for Hillsborough Public Works. "I will tell you that 99 percent of them are strongly in favor."

With the positive response, Valdez said the plan will now go before the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners. A meeting date has not been scheduled. The public would be notified and have a chance to speak before the board, Valdez said.

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The $600,000 park has already been funded with county impact fees.

The Jackson Springs location is attractive to the county because of the recreation center that is already on site, in addition to basketball courts. Both are frequented by area teens.

"We've looked at just about every spot but we're here because of what's going on with this location and these teens," said Mark Thornton, director of Hillsborough County's Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department at the July meeting.

Constructing the park at Jackson Springs would mean some switching around. The park would be constructed northeast of the existing recreation center. The existing parking area would be moved to where the basketball courts are currently. And the basketball courts would be reconstructed elsewhere on the property.

"Its looking like we may have actually found a home," Valdez said.

Stay tuned to Patch for information on when the board will consider the skateboard park.

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


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