Galt City Council members and Parks and Recreation Director Armando Solis break ground Oct. 19 on a new skate park in the city. Photo by Keith Burbank

 

GALT, CA (MPG) – Skaters are expected to get a $2.9 million “permanent” skate park here by next year following a groundbreaking Oct. 19.

The existing one at 620 Chabolla Ave., next to the Parks and Recreation Department, was a temporary park that was built more than two decades ago. It is being taken down to make way for a permanent one.

It’s long overdue, said Nathan Faver, a skater and Galt resident, at the groundbreaking.

“I’m excited to see what the final version is,” he said.

Faver would like the lights for the park to be on at least until 10 p.m., he said. It is hot until late during the summer, he said, so he waits to skate until late in the day.

Faver suggested the city install lights that can be turned off and on with the push of a button. That way skaters can use them when they need them, he said.

Parks and Recreation Director Armando Solis said lights are planned for the skate park. The new park will made of concrete, which is longer-lasting, requires less maintenance and is preferred by skaters.

The contractor has 110 days to complete the project, depending on the weather, Solis said. Those days are when work can occur. Excluded are days when it rains and days needed for the area to dry out, Solis said.   

The contractor may, Solis said, order everything now and wait until the spring to start working because of the expected wet weather.

Funding from Measure Q is helping the city pay for the park.

“With the help from Measure Q, we were able to double the size” of the park, Solis said.

About $1.9 million in funding for the project is coming from the department’s capital funds while $620,000 is funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and $337,000 is funding from Measure Q, according to city records.

The park will have features for skaters of different styles and skill levels, Solis told those attending the groundbreaking. Features include a box jump, quarter-pipe hip, round rail and layback extension, among others.

Skaters will have shade and be able to skate in the winter, he said.

“It’s going to be a great project,” Solis said.

“We really tried to get the community's input to see what it is that you users really wanted out here,” said Betsy Flores, assistant engineer for Galt.

Flores never skated, nor will she, she said. But she hopes the opportunity is there for her children and other children, she added.

The existing skate park was controversial, said former City Councilman Tom Malson, because some expected it to attract drug addicts.  

But in the first year following construction police reported no issues, he said. And now this one is expected to be built, he said.