MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen have concluded their business for the year of 2025 and the item that highlighted their final meeting of the year was approval for a $2.5 million bond earmarked for a new skate park on the city’s West Side.
Exactly half of the 36 participants during public comment period of the board’s Dec. 16, 2025 meeting spoke in favor of the project, citing the tight-knit skateboarding community that would care for the area if the project passed in addition to other points such as the popularity of skateboarding classes run by the Police Athletic League and economic development that would arise from the project.
There was also a person speaking against the project during public comment, Troy Micklon, although he said he felt other things in the city were a greater budgetary priority and was not opposed to a skate park or the location otherwise.
Public comment sessions were held in early November, late November and February regarding proposed improvements such as the skate park at Wolfe Park, a recreational area in southwestern Manchester. Another informational presentation was given following public comment. Led by Manchester Department of Public Works Parks Recreation and Cemetery Director Mark Gomez and Manchester Department of Public Works Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Park Projects Manager Kate Waldo, the presentation provided an overview of the four phases of renovation at Wolfe Park, the first of which, or Phase 1a, has already been approved.
The skate park lies within Phase 1b, which Gomez says would be finished within 2026 or early 2027 if the bond was approved during the meeting. Phase 2, is expected to be completed in 2027. Phase 3 is expected to be completed in 2028.
Combined, all four phases are expected to cost a total of $5.4 million.
Ward 9 Alderman Jim Burkish expressed concern that the bond request was occurring in December and not during the spring when most city budget-related decisions are made. Gomez said that a decision on bonding had to be made immediately since many construction companies are booked by the time weather improves, raising rates for those who are left.
Ward 7 Alderman Ross Terrio built upon a concept proposed by Ward 8 Alderman Ed Sapienza, where instead of using bonding to fund Phase 1a, the city would instead use money allocated for the Aldermen’s health and dental benefits. Terrio said that this amount would be equivalent to the bonding amount over 20 years, the life of the bond.
“It would be a Christmas present from us,” said At-Large Alderman Joseph Kelly Levasseur.
Ward 4 Alderwoman Christine Fajardo questioned the mechanics of the proposal, as the money needed for Phase 1b would be needed right away rather than over a 20-year period. Manchester Finance Department Director Sharon Wickens stated that institutions buying municipal general obligation bonds expect not to buy repeated bonds each year over the same construction project. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais also noted that aldermanic benefit totals fluctuate from year to year, potentially changing Terrio’s formula.
The board voted 11-3 in opposition to the proposal, with only Terrio, Sapienza and Ward 6 Alderman Crissy Kantor voting in favor.
A motion to approve the bond measure was given by Burkush with the caveat that an additional $250,000 would be collected from searches for grant money, fundraising and other efforts. This measure passed 10-4, with Terrio, Sapienza, Levasseur and Kantor voting in opposition.
Kantor said that her heart wanted to support the skate park following the public comment testimony, but could not do so in good conscience given concerns from constituents regarding rising taxation potentially costing them their homes.
She would later agree to help fundraise for the project in response to a comment asking her to do so by Ward 10 Alderman Bill Barry, with Ruais asking for cordiality between the two members. Kantor asked what the deadline would be for the $250,000 with Barry expecting it to be by August. However, there was no note of any penalty if the $250,000 was not raised.
After years of planning and advocacy by New Hampshire’s skateboarding community, Wolfe Park will hold the city’s first full-sized skate park since the demolition of a skate park once found inside Sheehan-Basquil Park and the city’s first skate park since a small-scale skate park at Rock Rimmon Park.
Josh Swett, one of the individuals who spoke in favor of the skate park during the meeting, grew up using that skate park. He said it was a difficult skate park to learn on, given that it had been made by people that did not know how to make skate parks. He also took umbrage with comments by Levasseur regarding the eventual deterioration of that skate park, noting that it was largely hidden by nearby buildings and that in turn grew illicit activity. The materials used in the production of the skate park also made it difficult to fix damaged portions of the park.
He said that lessons had been learned since the days of the Sheehan-Basquil effort and input from skateboarders, BMX bike riders and others using the park were taken into account in the design process.
“You’re never going to get the entire community to agree on everything, but this proposal checks off most of the boxes. With this park, we did our best to make it work for everybody,” said Swett.
He added that he has little doubt that his fellow skateboarders will play a significant role in helping to raise the $250,000.
“I would be really surprised if it didn’t happen,” he said. “It seems like a lot of money, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to everything else that is going on.”