Bennington Skate Park Project Proposal
The Town of Bennington and the Bennington Skatepark Committee are planning a 16,000 square foot skatepark at Rotary Park in downtown Bennington. The skatepark will have a classic concrete "snake run", as well as multiple concrete bowls and features for skateboards, bicycles, and scooters.
The park will be designed and built by GRINDLINE Skateparks, a company that has built award winning skateparks all over the USA, including the Manchester and Burlington skateparks. New lighting will improve security at the park and make it usable into the early evening hours. The park will also have additional benches and picnic tables for all ages to enjoy the space.
Public Outreach
On March 28, 2022, community supporters presented to the Select Board on the idea of using ARPA funds to help fund the creation of a new Skate Park. The idea was given approval to move forward and $5,000 of ARPA funding was allocated for design work to inform what a new skate park might look like.
On June 26, 2023, community supporters returned and shared a presentation with a design idea for a skate park. The conceptual plan is available here. You can also view a "fly through" of the design on YouTube by clicking here. The select board liked the design idea and requested that staff work with the skate park community supporters to develop a plan and establish what the costs might be. The community supporters will report back to the Select Board once that work is complete.
On October 10, 2023, community supporters returned to share a presentation with an update on the project. The slide deck from the presentation can be downloaded here.
Next steps that were approved by the Select Board on 10/10/23 are as as follows:
- Select Board authorization of staff to continue to work with Skate Park Team and GRINDLINE to develop design and cost estimates
- Selectboard release of up to $25,000 in ARPA funds for site and permitting analysis and fundraising consulting services
- Staff update within 90 days with results of site feasibility analysis, updated cost estimate and fundraising effort
At the January 8, 2024, Select Board Meeting, a Skatepark Funding Update was given.
The Select Board voted to approve the following:
- Approve fundraising strategy for Skatepark
- Approve the municipal resolution for Downtown Transportation Fund Application
- Authorize final design and permitting work
- Commence fundraising campaign
- Latest cost estimate for construction
Funding for the Skatepark
Our fundraising goal is $900,000. One third of the cost will be covered by ARPA funds, and one third will be raised through crowdfunding and grants. Once those first two-thirds of the funding are in place, the Select Board has agreed to provide the remaining one third with funds raised from the "Penny for Parks" fund. No municipal tax dollars are included in the funding for construction, but the town will be responsible for maintaining the skate park once completed. The lifespan of parks of this type is around 40 years. The presentation on January 8 gives the breakdown and details on the latest cost estimates (see links above)
The crowdfunding and grant seeking portion of the fund raising is now underway
The crowdfunding campaign is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s Better Places program and offered through the crowdfunding platform developed by Patronicity. The campaign is led by an all-volunteer committee with support from the Town of Bennington’s Office of Community Development.
For project details and to DONATE, please visit: https://www.patronicity.com/project/bennington_skatepark_project#!/
If the campaign reaches its $20,000.00 crowd funding goal by June 30, 2024 the "Bennington Skatepark Project” will receive a matching grant of $40,000 from DHCD’s Better Places program. Additional funding is being provided using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, Penny For Parks funds, and additional grants have been applied for.
MAY 2024 UPDATE:
We have just received word that a $200,000 grant from the Downtown Transportation Fund has been secured. That means if we are successful with the crowdfunding effort, that gets us to $260,000. That, plus a recent pledge from the VSECU of $10,000 will leave just $30,000 left to raise for the entire project. Please support the crowd funding effort to help us reach our goal!