“Your work is in line with our mission of ... ‘the benefits to the community and its citizens are most substantial ...,’ since the park’s features offer something for everyone,” the letter signed by HCCF president Beverly Matthews said.

“This is just amazing,” parks board president Patty Broyles said. “We got it because the Henry County Community Foundation wants to be proactive for this community. They saw the need and it’s just amazing to me what they’ve done for this community. We appreciate their support!”

In drafting a five-year plan for the parks, the board held public meetings and surveyed the community to solicit what the citizens of New Castle want in their parks system. One of the items most frequently mentioned was a skatepark. With that in mind, the parks board has been investigating what it can do to give local citizens what they want.

Braedon Donica is among several skating and biking enthusiasts who have attended parks board meetings and been vocal supporters of the skatepark idea. On behalf of his fellow skaters, he voiced his appreciation to the HCCF for its support.

“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “I’m really excited that the city is on the same page as us and that (the community foundation) wants to help get this done for us. I’m glad that everyone is coming together to make this happen.”

New Castle Mayor Greg York said he was excited the community foundation chose to support the skatepark idea.

“I had no idea that they were going to give us the $5,000. That pays for our design, and with the help of the kids telling us what they need that we can take to the engineer, that’s huge. This pays for our first step, and that’s very exciting,” the mayor said.

Current plans are to build a skating/biking facility north of the community swimming pool and just west of the pickleball courts where a sand volleyball court currently is located. The volleyball court is seldom used and the board has determined it would be a good location for a skatepark.

The project comes with an estimated price tag of $250,000. Funding for its construction will have to come from grants, gifts and other private sources as the city’s budget doesn’t allow for an expenditure of this nature or scope. The board is investigating grant and funding sources locally and outside the community.

Parks board president Patty Broyles indicated she intends to approach the county for Food & Beverage Tax money to pay for video cameras throughout the parks to improve security, enhancements to park restrooms to make them handicap accessible, and to help pay for the proposed skatepark as it is felt such a facility will help attract visitors from out of town and thus promote tourism and have a positive economic impact.

Local resident David McAlister has been involved with trying to get a skatepark built in New Castle for the past several years. He is encouraging the community to get behind this effort.

“I cannot stress to the general public (the importance) of our kids having a place to excel and share their talents in one of the top sports today. Imagine raising $50,000 to have something worth far more than that. If everyone just gave $3 dollars by the end of the month,” McAlister said.

The city has created a dedicated fund for skatepark donations. Anyone wishing to donate is encouraged to do so by sending a check or money order to New Castle Clerk-Treasurer Christy York, 227 N. Main St., New Castle, IN 47362. Be sure to indicate the money is for the skatepark fund. Donations may also be made in person at the clerk-treasurer’s office on the first floor of the municipal building at the previously listed address.