CUMBERLAND — Bids to construct a new skatepark in Cumberland are $212,000 over the city’s budget for the project.
Cumberland Administrator Jeff Silka told the mayor and City Council Tuesday the lowest bid for the park, including site and drainage work, was $787,000.
“I would not encourage making the project smaller,” he said and talked of rising construction costs since the park was planned. “Everything kind of went out of kilter.”
Silka said the city unsuccessfully applied for a grant to help fund the project through the Tony Hawk Foundation.
“We didn’t make it to the first round,” he said.
Silka cautioned construction prices are expected to increase in time.
“If we don’t do it now, it’s gonna be more expensive,” he said of building the skatepark.
Construction of a skatepark in Cumberland has been discussed for decades.
A city workgroup in 2021 determined the Mason Sports Complex would be a suitable location for the park.
Cumberland contributed an initial $10,000, followed by $325,000 for Silka to begin planning and design of the skatepark.
Allegany County commissioners last year authorized $250,000 for the skatepark.
In February, Greg Kerr, of the Cumberland Skate Park Committee, presented a design for the park to the council.
Rampage Skate Shop & Skatepark Equipment of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was reportedly chosen to design and oversee construction of the facility.
“We took the bowl out,” Kerr reportedly said of the plan at that time.”
“It was just a huge cost-savings,” he said. “We’d rather have a larger park than one large feature.”
At that time, Silka said the city contracted SPECS Engineering to do site and permit work for the project.
Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss Tuesday said he was disappointed to hear additional money is now needed to complete the skatepark considering the city has a good location and design for the project.
Much of the funding planned for the skatepark, allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act, must be spent before July, he said.
“I think we … bite the bullet and do it,” Morriss said of covering the funding gap and moving forward with the project.
City Council members Eugene Frazier, Rock Cioni and Jimmy Furstenberg agreed.
What if we ask the county to split the difference?” Councilwoman Laurie Marchini asked.
Silka said he will call county officials and make the request.
Either way, the council’s consensus was to bring the project to fruition.
“You make the call, but we move forward,” Morriss told Silka.
In other city business:
Several comments at Tuesday’s mayor and City Council meeting commended Saturday’s Rock the Block in Merchant’s Alley that honored construction workers on the downtown project, highlighted the 1980s and featured bands Milk Mountain from Frederick and The Reagan Years of Hagerstown.
Morriss called the event “outstanding” and said it included a “fantastic turnout.”
Frazier said, “I enjoyed myself tremendously.”
Let’s Beautify Cumberland! Co-Chair Ed Mullaney thanked folks and organizations, including city officials, McClarran and Williams, and Cartridges Galore for their help to make the event successful.
During the event, LBC! used the Cumberland Times-News parking lot to raise funds for a clock that will overlook downtown, he said.
“Rock the Block rocked the clock,” Mullaney said of $2,000 collected for the project.
He complimented city resident and business owner Chris Myers, who is also an LBC! member, for creating and organizing the event.
Rock the Block “was an economic driver,” Mullaney said. “Visitors were bedazzled … local cash registers were ringing.”
Myers said more than 1,000 people, many from outside Allegany County, attended the event.
He talked of struggles and challenges he faced with local government to make the event happen.
“Moving forward, we have to find a middle ground,” Myers said.
Morriss agreed.
“We’ll work with you and other organizers in the future to make events work,” he said.