As the City of Largo makes way on its new Highland Recreation Complex, a new Largo Skate Park is in the works.
Construction on a new $17 million recreation complex at 400 Highland Ave. NE began in February while early renderings and a site plan were approved by Largo
city commissioners in March. The new 39,800-square-foot facility will replace the
current 25,000-square-foot, 40-year-old facility and will be rebuilt west of the
Highland Family Aquatic Center.
Designed by Tampa's
Gould Evans firm, the new center will include a game room, running track, party rooms, two gymnasiums, two fitness rooms, two program rooms, two locker rooms, a two-story child's play area, new trails, a new play field and new shelters.
Funds for the new center will be borrowed and repaid using revenue from
Penny for Pinellas while the City plans to break ground in October 2012. Construction of the new center will affect the current
Largo Skate Park.
“The new building and parking goes right where the skate park is now,” says
City of Largo Parks Superintendent Greg Brown.
According to Brown, a new skate park will be built at Largo's
Bayhead Complex at 375 Seminole Ave. where equipment will be recycled from the current park. A public meeting was recently held in March to gain input on suggestions, ideas and features for the relocated park.
“The current skate park is fee based and monitored, but the new one will be free and without a monitor,” Brown says. “Use should soar.”
Construction on the new skate park is expected to go out to bid in the next couple of months with completion of the project slated for late Summer of early Fall of 2012. The former Largo Skate Park closed on March 31st.
Writer:
Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Greg Brown,
City of Largo
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.