On June 12, Westminster will unroll its collection of half-pipes, pyramids, ramps and more with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the city's upgraded skate park.

The ceremony marks the end of a project that brought the community, the city and students of the Career and Technology Center together.

"It was very much a community program," said Shannon Kropkowski, administrator coordinator for the city. "The kids were really into it. There were a bunch of fathers that had skaters and were skaters themselves."

In October 2007, three meetings were held by the city and led by local dads to learn what the then 8-year-old skate park needed.

Last fall, students at the Carroll County Career and Technology Center began building the new attractions for the existing park, which closed in October in preparations.

"A lot of the departments, including video, welding, fabric and carpentry, took park," Kropkowski said. "We were able to save so much money using the students. We were ... able to buy good materials."

And by installing more durable materials to build ramps and other features, the city will be able to open the park to BMX bikers for the first time.

"That is a great thing," Kropkowski said. "It really added to the project."

"It is going to be really good when it opens," she said. "It is one of the best projects."

The Maryland Municipal League has given the park a green award for various recycled materials and green building practices used in the park's rebuilding, according to Kropkowski.

The park will be open from sun up to sun down, seven days a week after the ribbon cutting ceremony, Kropkowski said.

The June 12 ceremony will be a "soft opening" she said, as the area's many rain showers have put the project a little behind.

"It has been amazing over the last two years to see this community come together to make this project possible," said Ron Schroers , the city's director of Recreation and Parks. "If it wasn't for this wonderful community, it wouldn't be happening."

Mayor Kevin Utz will attend the ceremony as will City Council members, the directors of both the city and county's recreation and parks, staff of the Career and Technology Center and the many students and citizens who played a role in the park's renovations.

Light refreshments, including fruits and beverages, will be served.

All skate

The Westminster City Skate Park ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Friday, June 12, 3:30 p.m. at the Westminster City Skate Park, located on the corner of Tuc Road and Locust Avenue, Westminster. Once open, the park will be available for skaters and BMX bikers sun up to sun down, seven days a week. For details, call 410-848-9398.

---

user comments (0)