SEBASTIAN — The popular Skate Park at 1121 Barber Street is getting a major ramp-up. Last month, the Sebastian City Council awarded the repair/replace job to low bidder Misiano Skateparks of New Smyrna Beach, and work should be getting under way in mid-April, according to Recreation Department Director Chris McCarthy.
The job is expected to take about 90 days and will include removal of existing ramps, concrete repair and installation of new ramps.
At $93,935, Misiano’s bid came in well below the other two bids and the budgeted $125,000.
Misiano has proposed to replace the existing modular equipment with poured-in-place concrete skate features.
Included will be a mini-ramp with wide flat walls, a pyramid with handrail and stairs; and a 6-foot tall and a 16-foot wide quarter pipe, giving variety to the skate features and allowing for more speed through the rest of the park.
There will be a number of other ramps, rails and boxes as well for trick skating and grinding.
Joan Smith is one of the three Skate Park attendants.
“I like to say I’m a Park Ranger,” she says with a large grin.
Smith loves her job and loves the kids who come after school and on weekends.
“Ninety-nine percent of the kids are here to have fun; it’s amazing how fast they pick it up. We have some excellent skaters of all ages from 5 years old to young adults.”
In the five and a half years she’s worked at the Skate Park, Smith has come to know many of the skateboarders – Cameron, Keaton, Michel, Noah, two Andrews, Tony Jordan, Nate, Autumn – yes, she says, there are several girls who skateboard.
“I enjoy it, being here, courtside with the kid on weekends. They’re very respectful. But, if anyone starts mouthing off, causing trouble . . . I’m here to make sure things go well.”
A little past 4 p.m., a young fellow enters Smith’s little office to sign in, board under his arm, helmet on his head.
Tony Fodor is 15 and has been skating for a couple of years.
He picked up a rendering of the new skate park from a pile on Smith’s desk.
Checking out the new configuration, he says, “Yeah. It’s good. I like the stairs. There are no stairs here now. And I like how they’re adding rails, so we can grind. It’ll be nice. Real nice.”
Buckling his helmet strap, he heads through the gate and was soon flying across the ramps.
Smith is just as excited as the kids about the new and improved Skate Park coming this spring.
“Hopefully it’ll be done by summer,” she said, watching Tony fly by on his board.
