BURRILLVILLE – A project first discussed by the Town Council in 2022 is finally moving forward with a firm now engaged for construction of a new skate park in town.
Artisan Skateparks Inc. will design and build the new facility at the site of the existing park on Chapel Street, replacing 20-year-old equipment with modern concrete features.
The project will be funded with the help of a $500,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, secured by the Planning Department in 2022. The Town Council previously approved $150,000 in matching funds for construction.
“Artisan Skateparks. Inc and their design subcontractor, Pillar Design Studios, will assist us with design, community input and construction,” noted a memo from Public Works Director Jeffrey McCormick presented to the council last week. “Artisan Skateparks has a predetermined preferential pricing list of skatepark features and appurtenances which has already been hid at a national level offering municipalities a very efficient and professional procurement process.”
The project will expand both parking and equipment on the 1.3 acre town-owned property, with early plans anticipating a multi-level, 10,000-square-foot facility with room for up to 26 vehicles. Town officials looked at 17 locations in 2023 before deciding to keep the park at its current location, taking into consideration factors including visibility, proximity to the center of town, impact to abutters and ownership in the decision.
It’s an improvement to town recreation facilities that is somewhat overdue. The roughly 6,000-square-foot steel structure currently in use was first erected at Eccleston Field in 2005, but that park closed after just four years due to complaints about behavior and vandalism. The equipment was refurbished and moved after the town purchased the Chapel Street property in 2011.
The new park is expected to feature a concrete bowl and ramps for use by scooters, bikes and skateboards.
“Now we’re ready to procure this project,” McCormick told the council at the meeting on Wednesday, July 9.
Joe Casali Engineering, the firm that worked on the original project years ago, will complete the needed site engineering and wetland permitting at a cost of $50,000, with the remaining $600,000 paid to Artisan Skateparks. McCormick noted that construction is expected to begin in summer of 2026 once permits are secured.
Town Council President Don Fox asked McCormick what will happen to the existing equipment.
“I think it’s too clunky and too old to reuse,” said McCormick, noting it will likely be scraped.
Town Manager Michael Wood thanked the town staff for their work on the project, including securing the grant funding.
“Nice job to everybody involved,” Wood said.
“We get three to one for our money – that’s fabulous,” agreed Fox.
U need half pipes 4 ,6 and 8 foot quarter pipes rolling burmes and table tops which is four quarter pipes all butted together with a concrete table top landing skate and bike parks are all about flow solid lines or runs to do good tricks also have one side have 6 foot high quarter pipe that has a large fly out concrete landing for fly out tricks like backside 180s
Not a boarder but wouldn’t concrete hurt?
Most are made of concrete or metal. And yes, its hurts of you fall. That’s why its not really recommended for little kids even though parents still like to bring them
This is great to see! Happy that many towns in RI understand the value of skate parks. There are other outdated parks that could probably use those ramps that currently exist such as Warwick skate park, Billy Taylor skate area, Davey Lopes Skate Park. Would hate to see them go completely to waste