New skate park for Hot Springs

The City of Hot Springs has been notified of a state grant funding award that will enable the construction of a new 5,000 square foot state-of-the-art skate park on city-owned property located at 411 Valley Street, next to the Recycling Drop-off Center and adjacent to the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail.

The Parks & Recreation Department applied for and will receive $75,000 in grant funds from the Arkansas 2013 Land Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Grant Program.  Matching funds will be provided by the City of Hot Springs, community donations, and a local private non-profit skateboard advocacy group, Partners of the Park.

Surrounded by large trees in a natural setting, the skate park will feature modern concrete ramps, a concrete surface, spectator seating and barrier-free access.  Environmentally-friendly rain gardens have already been installed around the perimeter.

The new facility will replace the former Valley Street Skate park that had wooden ramps that were in constant need of disrepair. The area where the former skate park stood is now part of Sanitation’s expanded recycling center.  Groundbreaking for the skate park is estimated to take place in June.  The project is expected to be completed by early winter.