Sparta moving forward with plans to convert park of South Carter Street Park into a skate park.
The city closed the park last year when a building downtown began crumbling. City officials said they had already planned to move the park. Mayor Jerry Lowery said another old building stands in the way of the skateboard facility, off Bockman Way.
“That building is suppose to be torn down,” Lowery said. “It’s just an old dilapidated building. We’re scheduled to to have it torn down the first of, well, matter of fact this week, next week it should be torn down and we’ll get that cleared off, and, it’s right beside the South Carter Park that we already have.”
The South Carter Street facility could be nearly double the size of the old park. City Administrator Tonya Tindle said because the new proposed park is adjacent to streets, safety is a concern.
“We would have to fence it in right there as it is bordering those streets.” Tindle said. “And then you could put some trees kind of, you know, make it look good, a couple of picnic tables and stuff like that.”
Lowery said the city will need to purchase additional equipment for the facility. The city had applied for a grant to upgrade the park but did not receive it.
