COLUMBUS -- East Pawnee Park will be the new home for the Columbus skate park, following approval from the city park board Tuesday.
After months of consideration, the park board voted unanimously, with board member David Slusarski absent, to select East Pawnee Park as the site to relocate the skate park. The relocation was prompted by the rehabilitation of six tennis courts at Gerrard Park, the previous location of the skate park.
The concrete slab and equipment would be located at what would be extensions of 28th Avenue and Second Street, a southern section of East Pawnee Park.
Tom Hunt, board chairman, said city staff, representatives from the Columbus Extreme Sports Association and himself looked at all the parks in Columbus and had narrowed the potential site to East Pawnee Park and Airport Park.
“We felt none of the other parks had the accessibility or were able to accommodate a fully developed (150-square-foot) facility,” Hunt said.
Greg Schaefer, president of the Columbus Extreme Sports Association, said preference was given to East Pawnee Park because it was not adjacent to any homes and had the restroom and water facilities for those who would use the equipment, which also would serve to provide shelter in case of a storm.
Also, “that park is a better location because it gets patrolled more often; more families go there,” and it provides a central location for many family activities, Schaefer said, so kids who want to skate can do so while other families go to the playground or Pawnee Plunge Water Park.
“This is where we would like to make our new home,” he said.
Property Superintendent Mark Kudron said the expectation is to install the concrete slab and relocate the skate park equipment in the fall.
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