Skate Spot
A small-scale skateboarding park, or skate spot, is planned for Cates Creek Park, which is owned by the town and has space to add a skate spot of about 5,000 to 6,000 square feet.
The skate spot will be located at Cates Creek Park, 1445 Cates Creek Pkwy.
The town allocated $20,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 for the design of the Skate Spot at Cates Creek Park. In addition, a $300,000 allocation is recommended for construction in Fiscal Year 2024. Construction is expected to start in 2024.
A survey of the site was completed in March, and the design for this project will be complete by July 2023, with cost estimates provided. Construction may begin as soon as 2024.
In Fiscal Year 2023, the town contracted with the design build company 5th Pocket Skateparks to conduct community workshops and develop plans for the skate spot. The town and 5th Pocket hosted a design workshop in January 2023 to receive input on the park features. Over 50 local skaters and skate enthusiasts participated in the workshop.
There has been community interest in a skate park in Hillsborough for decades. The Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board has prioritized the addition of a small-scale skateboarding park, believing it will provide a needed safe space for teens and adolescents in Hillsborough.
Parks and Recreation Board minutes show discussions about interest in a skatepark dating to the early 1990s. In 2014, a skate park interest form with 109 names and contact information was submitted to the appointed board by community members. In 2017, the board ranked potential sites based on 36 recommended criteria and determined the privately owned Exchange Park as the preferred site for a skate park, followed by Cates Creek Park.
The board's study of the Exchange Park site over several years showed numerous constraints to the parcel's development. Cates Creek Park is an accessible town park in a developing area, has sufficient space for the addition, and has restrooms and parking. The Parks and Recreation Board will continue to look for sites in central and northern Hillsborough for additional teen resources and additional skate spots.
