.
It did not get finished in time for Christmas as expected, but there is progress at Heaven’s skate park.
The skate park is being built in part of Heaven/New Ross, County Wexford Park. This came about after years of meeting with the City of Hartford, forming a Friends group, putting out an RFP, applying for grants, and attending public hearings to defend residents’ rights to decide for ourselves how our parks are used.
Right now, the park has a playground and four square court; the area painted for use as a basketball court is where the skate park is being built. Popular uses for the New Ross, County Wexford Park, besides skating, include parkour and aerosol art.
This is not the only park to be reconfigured to reflect users’ wishes. Pope Park North, also known as Baby Pope, is getting a makeover of its own. Its tennis courts were in poor shape, unsuitable for that use even if anybody in the neighborhood wanted to play tennis. Residents have wheeled portable basketball hoops into this space. People have also used the courts for baseball. Right now, most of the park is ripped up. Design plans show better walkways, picnic areas, and wet and dry playgrounds designed for preschool-aged children.
