MANCHESTER, NH – After a tie vote in November stalled progress on proposed bonding for a new skate park at Wolfe Park, the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) advanced the request following their meetings on Dec. 3, with a final decision expected at their last meeting of the year later this month.
During the BMA Committee on Community Improvement early in the evening, the $2.5 million request was forced off the table due to the fact that this would likely be the last meeting for that committee with its current membership before the current Aldermanic term ends at the end of December. The request was forwarded to the committee’s November meeting after support from the full board for committee review in October. A series of community meetings about the skate park proposal also received public input earlier in the year, concluding in February.
A total of approximately $500,000, including $175,000 in U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has already been earmarked for improvements planned for the park, which include renovating softball fields, installing pickleball courts and adding a walking path in addition to the proposed skate park. While it was noted that CDBG grants could also be allocated to the park improvements in the future, Manchester Community Planning and Community Development Grants Coordinator Todd Fleming said that most years that money is allocated to non-profit agencies and it was unclear how much CDBG funding would be available in future years.
Manchester Department of Public Works Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division Director Mark Gomez and Manchester Department of Public Works Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Capital Projects Capital Projects Manager Kate Waldo told the committee that while the $2.5 million request for the skate park could be broken up into separate, smaller funding requests, the total amount for separate requests would likely be larger due to the fact that interconnected work on drainage near the proposed skate park is also needed and there would be an economy of scale to get everything done at once.
Additionally, Gomez said that it was financially optimal to put the project out to bid in the winter while a larger number of contractors remain available for work during the traditional New Hampshire construction season, lasting roughly from March to October. On top of saving money, if the city waited too long to put out a request for bids, construction on the improvements may have to wait until the 2027 construction season.
This recommendation was paired with other funding requests for field lighting investments at Derryfield Park, Sheehan-Basquil Park and Livingston Park. However, when Item 35 on the agenda of the BMA’s full board meeting came up later in the night, seeking to accept the recommendation and forward the item that evening’s BMA Committee on Finance meeting was met with a motion to receive and file, or kill, the proposal by Alderman At-Large Joseph Kelly Levasseur. Levasseur said that he supported the lighting projects, but felt that the city would potentially need the $2.5 million due to the fact that budget flexibility may be needed in 2026.
This motion was not recognized by Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, with a motion to approve the recommendation taking its place.
Manchester Finance Department Director Sharon Wickens said that generally bonding requests do not arise outside of situations where timing is of the essence, possibly referring to the comments on construction schedules made by Gomez earlier. She said that in her role it was inappropriate to have an opinion for or against the skate park, but warned that approval of the bond request would leave less money available for bonding during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget deliberation process next year if the city were to maintain its projected $17 million bonding cap likely needed to maintain its current bond ratings.
Ward 8 Alderman Ed Sapienza felt that the request was out of order given that most committee recommendations are not taken up by the full board on the same night excluding emergencies, and that the skate park was not an emergency. He added that two Aldermen were not in attendance due to the fact that the Dec. 3 meeting had been rescheduled from the previous night.
“If we don’t follow the proper committee process, then what’s the point of it?” said Sapienza.
Ward 10 Alderman Bill Barry responded to a claim by Levasseur hearing from his child that most children in Manchester are not interested in skateboarding. Barry pointed out that numerous nearby towns and cities have skate parks that have become destinations. He responded to Sapienza’s assertion by stating that he has heard from constituents about the need for a new skate park for over a decade and that the delay had come from the lack of a location until recently. He also added that the skate park can be used for BMX bikers.
“It’s sad if we don’t offer things for our kids,” said Barry.
Alderman At-Large Dan O’Neil added that a skate park that once existed at Sheehan-Basquil Park (now occupied by a mini-soccer pitch) deserved a replacement, with only a halfpipe near Rock Rimmon Park constructed since then for the city’s skateboard community. He added that the improvements at Wolfe Park would also be beneficial for the neighborhood.
“The community is looking for this, Ward 10 is looking for this type of activity on Harvell Street because the only activity now is the homeless,” said O’Neil.
O’Neil also added that the approximately $800,000 of drainage enhancements at Wolfe Park would be needed even without the skate park.
Ward 6 Alderman Crissy Kantor asked how many children participate in the Manchester Police Athletic League indoor skateboard classes, with an answer of approximately 50. She also asked why this request was not placed within the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, with Ruais stating that the full amount needed was not yet known during the budget process.
The recommendation from the committee was forwarded and then approved by the Committee on Finance, with the Committee on Finance adding its approval to the recommendation. Following the acceptance by the full board’s recommendation of the Committee of Finance’s recommendation, the request will lay over until the BMA meets again on Dec. 16 for a second hearing, where final approval for the bonding can be obtained with a two-thirds vote of Aldermen present at the meeting. There were no roll call votes, but the voice votes for the recommendations were not unanimous.
