Local Skate Park Could Open by Summer’s End

If the reaction of two Alonso High School students is any indication, Hillsborough County’s new skate park in Town ‘N Country should be a hit with teens.

“It looks awesome,” sophomore Chase Spriggs was quoted by The Tampa Tribune as saying after he saw final design plans for the $600,000, 13,200-square-foot park during a recent county meeting.

Spriggs and Angel Vasquez, a fellow Alonso student, hope to form a skateboard club at their school in the fall.

If all goes as planned, the two will have a place to skate by then – a place they won’t get kicked out of.

The county has been working with residents and a consulting firm to put final plans for the park in place. It’s going to become a permanent feature at Jackson Springs Park, 8620 Jackson Springs Road.

Construction on the project is expected to begin soon and should take about 10 weeks to complete, according to The Tribune. Site preparation could tack on a few extra weeks, but the hope is to open the park at the end of the summer. 

Funding for the project comes from park impact fees and money's already in the budget to build the new park.

Once open, the park will not charge admission, but skaters must wear helmets. Skating daredevils ages 12 and under must also wear knee and elbow pads. The county currently has two open skate parks, one in Brandon and another in Apollo Beach.

The two Alonso students aren't the only ones looking forward to the park's opening. During a July meeting on the project, many residents turned out to show thier support for the concept.

Are you looking forward to the park’s opening? Share your thoughts by commenting below.

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