Groundbreaking held for Lock Haven Skatepark and related Hoberman improvements
LOCK HAVEN, PA – Lock Haven’s longstanding Hoberman Park is scheduled for a major upgrade this year and next and city officials and guests heralded the improvements at a Friday groundbreaking for a new skateboard park and nearby park improvements; these will include an accessible playground, resurfacing of parking lots, a new centralized restroom facility, pavilions, a community garden, walking path, relocation of the tee-ball field, replacement of dugouts and fence at the Little League field, the new skatepark with a pump track, new basketball court, multipurpose court and picnic area.
As noted by Lock Haven Mayor Joel Long, the complete project carries a $1.7 million price tag, all but $100,000 of that amount obtained from sources outside the city. These included $350,000 through the state Department of Community and Economic Development, $735,000 in a Community Development Block Grant, $739,600 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, plus $103,673 in local match dollars.
First up will be a new skatepark. DCED Deputy Secretary Rick Vilello, former Lock Haven Mayor, was among the speakers, as was current Mayor Long. Vilello noted both had been involved in the establishment of the first skateboard park at Hoberman, a primitive affair a couple decades back which included plywood.
Vilello’s work with DCED takes him all over the state to assist in economic development. He expressed pleasure that Thursday’s visit was only about a mile from his Lock Haven home.
All the speakers spoke of the cooperative effort in obtaining funding for the Hoberman improvements, lauding City Planner Abbey Roberts for her work in what they described as a very competitive application process.
Mayor Long noted the park site had been donated by the Hoberman family in 1938 and US Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-15) made a point to pay tribute to the Hoberman family for its contributions to the Lock Haven community over the years.
Speakers also included M. Wesley Fahringer, Regional Recreation and Conservation Advisor for the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation within DCNR. He was complimentary of both City Planner Roberts and Lock Haven’s Director of Community Life, Kasey Campbell, for their efforts in pursuing the project and obtaining the funding.
Timeline for skateboard construction is bidding in the near future, construction this fall; and all the other elements with engineering this summer/fall with construction in the summer and fall of 2024.
