Mayor Segarra recommended $150,000 in Federal CDBG funds for the park and the City Council approved it at this Monday’s Council meeting. This is big news, because it means that the money is finally coming together and we’re nearing the final stages before construction begins. Ben is finalizing the design, so that should be up here soon.
Thank you to everyone who has helped to make a skatepark at reality at Heaven.
Thank you to everyone who came out or send in donations for our fundraiser last Thursday. We raised more than $700, which is too bad considering there was a parking ban. Also, I want to thank Berkshire Bluegrass for playing. I hope you liked the food we made. Stay tuned for our next event.
We’re going to have a pasta dinner fundraiser Jan 27 at 6:00pm at Charter Oak Cultural Center. $15 or whatever you muster. More details to follow.
I’m really good with noodles.
I’ve been hearing a lot of people saying “leave the ledges alone!!!” “AHH!!! Why ARE you getting ridding of the ledges?”
The ledges aren’t going anywhere. What you’re seeing in both on the designs occupies the space where the basketball court lines are.
Ben just finished his redesign after the input we received back in September. I think it looks pretty good. Tell us what you think.
Click the image to see a bigger version.
Design by Ben McCarthy.
Wanna help the skatepark get built? Contribute some money! We’ve set up a project on Kickstarter. Contribute $5 to get a limited edition sticker if the project succeeds, or $25 to get a t-shirt. Check it out here.
Here’s a preliminary park design that was created to get things started.
Connecticut Public Television made a short documentary about Heaven and skateboarding in Hartford. You can find it here.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brendan Mahoney
Mahob001@hartford.gov
860 757 9568
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 16, 2010 – Hartford Skateboarding Task Force to hold public input session September 26 at 2:00pm at Heaven.
The Hartford Skateboarding Task Force will hold a public input session on September 26 at 2:00pm for the future skatepark at New Ross, County Wexford Park– “Heaven”. The goal of this session is to solicit input from local skaters, BMXers and others about what they would like to see at a formalized skatepark in Heaven. Task force members are mindful of the history of the space and it is very important to them that any addition to the park be made with the support of the local skaters and riders.
The Hartford Skateboarding Task Force was empanelled in winter 2009 by the Hartford Court of Common Council to explore the viability of a formal skatepark in the City. In April 2010, The Task Force recommended that a skatepark should be built at the City’s de facto skatepark, “Heaven”, New Ross, County Wexford Park atop I-84. The Council accepted these recommendations and since then the Task Force has been exploring funding opportunities as well as creating design recommendations. More information is available at http://heaveninhartford.org/.
Anyone with just a little familiarity with the Hartford skate/bmx/b-boy scene knows what Heaven is. Heaven in Hartford is the effort to build a world-class concrete skateboard/bmx park, along with outdoor graffiti walls and space for breaking and other expressions of urban culture.
To date, a task force of the Hartford City Council has been meeting regularly and working on identifying sources for funding, how much will need to be raised, and potential contractors to work with. Keep an eye on this site for regular updates, opportunities to help raise funds, special event announcements, and other ways to get involved.
