The proposed site for the new Cape May County Skate Park in Ocean City is adjacent to the Ocean City Fire Department between Fifth and Sixth streets, West and Asbury avenues.
City Council will vote Thursday on spending $750,000 and borrowing $712,500 to build a skateboard park on city-owned land on the 500 block of Asbury Avenue.
Council passed the first reading of the bond ordinance in a 6-1 vote (with Fourth Ward Councilman Pete Guinosso dissenting) on Nov. 13. The second and potentially final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for a public meeting 7 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 4) at City Hall.
Ocean City will be reimbursed $500,000 from a Green Acres Cape May County Recreation Grant that was announced in September, and council had already approved a capital plan that calls for borrowing $250,000 for the project.
Thursday's vote is perhaps the last major consideration in an effort to replace a city-owned skateboard park at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk that was dismantled in 2011 for safety concerns.
Advocates for the project envision a state-of-the-art concrete facility that will "stand the test of time" and provide both an important recreational outlet for youth and families, and a visitor attraction. The park will be constructed on city-owned land atop an existing parking lot adjacent to the Ocean City Fire Department. The site is bounded on other sides by the Ocean City Primary School, the Ocean City Tabernacle and the Gabriel Building Group.
In a separate vote on Thursday, City Council will consider a shared-services agreement with Cape May County to build and operate the park with the $500,000 county grant. The agreement requires, in part, that the facility be known as the "Cape May County Skate Park in Ocean City" and be open to all residents of Cape May County.
The next steps would be procedural — Council would approve specifications for bids from contractors and later approve a contract. The park possibly could be in place as early as spring 2015, according to Councilman Mike DeVlieger.
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