Politics & Government
Teens Campaign For Skate Park
Several teens approach Niles Park Commissioners, who propose sharing with Morton Grove. The teens now use Des Plaines and Glenview skate parks.
Even with several skate park facilities in the area, several local teens attended Tuesday night’s Niles Park Board meeting to ask park commissioners if they would consider building a Skate Park.
Commissioners said they’ve considered a park in the past but budget constraints have kept them from pursuing the project. This year, renovations at Grennan Heights Park totaled almost $1 million, said Commissioner Chuck Barbaglia, who added that he saw a skate park plan that would cost just under $400,000.
Earlier:
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The teens said that costs for parks vary depending on size and type of skate park, but that they could range in price from $60,000 to $300,000.
A skate park would bring teens to restaurants and other Niles businesses while providing a productive outlet for young residents, said Niles resident Krzysztof Maniewski, 15. The Park would also be a place for teens with common interests to meet and hang out, he added.
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“Your idea is not falling on deaf ears,” said Park Board Commission President Ray Czarnik, adding that the board could consider making funding for a proposal possible in future years. He added that they could look into cost sharing with communities like Morton Grove or research grant opportunities for funding.
Most of the teens in the group said they go to the Glenview Skatepark, but have also been to the parks in Mount Prospect and Des Plaines.
Commissioners collected the teens’ phone numbers at the end of the meeting, saying they would like to form a committee to begin fleshing out a plan.
