O P I N I O N
THE SOAPBOX
Stand up. Speak up. It’s your turn.
At the October 21 meeting of the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the proposed Wolfe Park skate park came up for discussion. Like many residents, I am excited about the idea of giving our youth a safe, modern place to skate and gather.
When I was younger, I spent countless hours skateboarding and still have my old board hanging in my garage. I know what a skate park can mean to a community. But even great ideas need solid plans, and this one raises serious questions about cost and funding that must be answered before we move forward.
The Board voted to authorize the project and send it back to the Community Improvement Program (CIP) Committee to finalize bonding details. In June 2024, aldermen had already approved $100,000 for design work. The proposed construction cost is about $2.5 million, and with 20-year bonding interest and fees, the real cost would be roughly $5.5 million.
This project was not included in the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. That means we are considering new long-term debt outside the normal budgeting process. Before we commit taxpayers to millions in new costs, we should step back and ask if there is a better way to fund it.
Maintenance, safety, and long-term costs
The discussion so far has focused on construction, but the real cost of a skate park continues long after the ribbon cutting. Concrete bowls and rails need resurfacing, upkeep, regular maintenance could easily add tens of thousands more dollars.
We also need to be honest about past experiences. Manchester’s former Maple Street skate park was eventually shut down after years of vandalism, drug use, and nearly 100 police calls in a single summer. If we invest in a new park, we must plan from day one for supervision, security, and community programming that keeps it safe and family-friendly.
Why the funding model needs to change
While sending the project back to the CIP Committee may seem like progress, simply refining the bond details is not enough. The funding method itself needs to be fixed.
I believe the proposed skate park should be financed either through a public and private partnership or entirely through nonprofit and donor support, not long-term taxpayer debt.
Manchester already has a foundation to build on. Previously, local skaters formed the Manchester Skate Park Fund, an effort to raise private dollars for a new park and ramps for the Manchester Police Athletic League. Partnerships like that, between community mentors, local businesses, nonprofits, and the city, are exactly how this project should move forward.
Other New Hampshire communities offer examples
Concord: The Concord Skate Park Association, a nonprofit, is raising money toward a $1.8 million goal through grants and sponsorships.
Nashua: The Granite State Sport Camp is creating New Hampshire’s first nonprofit indoor skate park funded entirely by community donations.
Stratham: Residents built a 7,500-square-foot, $265,000 park with $35,000 from the town and the rest from donor bricks and local sponsorships.
Conway: The Kevin Peare Memorial Skate Park is being built through fundraising events and private contributions, not municipal debt.
Each of these towns proved that with community commitment and transparency, major recreation projects can succeed without long-term municipal borrowing leaving taxpayers on the hook.
A better path for Manchester
I support building a new skate park. Our city lost one and still needs it. But with costs possibly exceeding $5.5 million, we must ensure this project is fiscally responsible, transparent, and sustainable.
The solution is not to pay for it over 20 years at a huge markup. The solution is to change the funding model and invite nonprofits, local businesses, and community leaders to help fund and maintain the project. That kind of cooperative effort would be guided by values and focused on outcomes that truly serve residents.
Manchester deserves great recreation spaces that strengthen our community and inspire pride. We can achieve that goal if we stay guided by values like fiscal responsibility, transparency, and collaboration, and focused on outcomes that create lasting value for everyone.
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