The Waverly Central School District board of education Thursday agreed to write a letter recognizing a proposed skateboard park in the village as a potentially constructive activity for youth.
A group led by village resident and mayoral candidate Marty Borko is working to raise funds and community support for the skate park, which, if plans move forward, would be built on the Ithaca Street village hall property. School board member Ron Perry said Borko asked him to bring the proposed park up at Thursday's board meeting with the hope of receiving a letter of support for the project.
A skate park at the village water works has been a popular spot for children in the past, Perry said. Placing the new park on the village hall property, where the police department is located, makes the location easier for officers to monitor, he added.
Board members raised concerns about the district's liability, since the district still owns part of the former Ithaca Street School property. However, Perry said the skate park, planned to be approximately 100 by 200 feet, would be located entirely on village-owned property. Proposed plans also leave extra room on village grounds for the park to be expanded in the future.
Perry said the group plans to apply for a grant through the Tony Hawk Foundation, which supports recreational programs focusing on the creation of skate parks in low-income communities, for additional funds. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, Perry said.
Borko will present the proposal to trustees at an upcoming meeting, Perry said Thursday.
Amanda Renko can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or email: arenko@thedailyreview.com.
