Biddeford residents speak out in favor of new skatepark

Several residents at Tuesday’s Biddeford City Council meeting spoke out in favor of rebuilding a skatepark.

In 2024, the city’s more than 20-year-old skatepark was removed from Rotary Park as it had fallen into disrepair and city officials said it was a safety concern. It has not been replaced.

Biddeford voters, on Nov. 4, approved a $6 million bond to fund improvements to the city’s recreation facilities. Facilities that are eligible to receive funding from the bond include Clifford Park, Rotary Park, Shevenell Park, Memorial Park (Mayfield), Doran Field, St. Louis Field, J. Richard Martin Community Center, West Brook Skating Rink, Biddeford Ice Arena, or a future skate park.

The city is collecting public input regarding how to use the money. As part of this process, a public hearing was held at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The overwhelming majority of people who spoke at Tuesday night’s public hearing asked the city to spend money on a new skate park.

Resident Kayla Lewis spoke about the strong local support for a new skatepark, which she said speaks to how important it is.

“One thing I can say about the skatepark, I was blown away by how community members were willing to organize around this, and continuously voice their opinion about the skatepark,” she said.

Resident Holly Culloton said the city dismantled the skatepark with little opportunity for community engagement prior to it being taken down. She asked the city to earmark part of the $6 million for a new skatepark.

“The city has an opportunity here, with this $6 million, to heal an old wound,” she said.

Ann Thompson said she was a “skatepark mom,” and frequently took her children to skateparks when they were teens. She said the skatepark was a free place that was open to all young people.

“I feel like it’s a big missing component of our community that’s badly needed,” she said.

Jane Booth said she and her partner used the skatepark a lot, and now have to travel to other communities to skate. She said Biddeford needed a skatepark locally so people wouldn’t have to travel out of the city and teens who didn’t drive could easily get to it.

“I think it’s a really important community hub for all ages,” she said.

For more information on the skatepark, go to the city’s Biddeford Skatepark Informational Page. More information on the recreation bond and ways to give input can also be found online.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.