Last month, the Cape Charles Town Council voted to close the skateboard park located at Plum and Madison. It also asked the Planning Commission to look into an appropriate location where the park could be relocated. During discussion, council also wanted the commission to explore the possibility of building a larger facility to include basketball, baseball and soccer, even a dog park. Council listed the following possible locations to consider:
1. Tennis Court
2. Keck well lot
3. Behind the Library
4. Randolph 700 block
Staff reviewed the locations, and found that the Keck Well lot seemed to hold the most promise, however it can only be accessed by vehicle, and would require a special use permit.
The Planning Commission met this Monday to review available locations.
Not to be confused with the Algonquin Round Table, this discussion was circular in nature and was absent any form of pun, quip or witty repartee. Commissioner Kieth Kostek complained that he was still fuzzy and recovering from his son’s bachelor party weekend, and that hazy aesthetic seemed to spread to the rest of the commission.
At one point, Kostek asked whether any one even skateboarded in Cape Charles. Planner Larry DiRe confirmed that the skateboard park was indeed used, “I live right across from it, and I see kids there all the time.”
After about twenty minutes of higgledy-piggledy banter, the commission still seemed confused as to why they had been brought together like this. Finally, chairman McCoy asked, “I think we are supposed to make a recommendation?”
Someone else echoed, “Yes, I believe we are (I can’t confirm the identity of that speaker, as I admit that by this point I may have been dozing off or daydreaming or contemplating stabbing myself with a pencil).”
Commissioner Stramm made a motion to recommend the Keck well property as a location for the recreational area. Councilman Buchholz seconded the motion, and added that the Community Enhancement Board might be able to help with this project, and that grants might be available to fund it.
The motion passed. Town council is scheduled to take up the matter in a special work session in August.
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Please DO build a good skate park, something that will last! Skaters should be involved in the design. See if the concrete plant can be involved to create some features. My 20 year old is a skater. It’s great exercise !!
Where is the Keck property? My son uses the current skate park, but he walks or skates there. Does it make sense to build the new park in a location that is only accessible by vehicle?
Note: Keck is that open field sort of across from Bay Creek…pretty far from old Cape Charles.
I agree, a park needs to be within walking distance for locals.
Who owns the old baseball field? Wasn’t that town property at one time. great place for a skateboard park, basketball courts, tennis courts and a baseball field.