TAMWORTH council could chuck a 180 on the fate of an old city skatepark.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
This week's council meeting revealed a bit of division about plans for the future of the old skate park across the road from the PCYC on Peel Street.
A "long-vehicle" car park has been proposed and designed for the site.
But a recent report by the city's crime prevention committee suggested the old skate park was still getting used.
READ MORE:
Youngsters are still skating there and using it as one of the city's only legal graffiti zones.
Glenn Inglis said there could be a case to keep the park open.
It is only a few hundred metres down the road from the council's new $1.7 million facility at Viaduct park.
The crime prevention committee's latest report noted feedback which said the new park could get "too busy" at times and old park was still getting plenty of use.
"How good is that," Cr Inglis said at this week's meeting.
With kids still using the old site, he said the council might have to "step back" and get a bit more analysis before demolishing it.
It sparked one of the most considered debates in the council chambers in recent times, with each councillor stepping up to present their take on the old skatepark's future.
While most agreed hugely popular council facilities were "a good problem to have", the majority saw greater need for a car park and the potential economic benefits.
The long vehicle space is partly aimed at giving caravan drivers somewhere to park close to the CBD.
Chair of the crime prevention group, Russell Webb, said it was critical the city retained legal graffiti zones, whether it was at the old skatepark site or not.
After each councillor put their two cents in, general manager, Paul Bennett, suggested the youth council should get a say on the matter.
Mr Bennett said further embellishments for the new park were always a part of the long term plan.
He suggested there might be elements of the old park which could be retained and added to Viaduct Park.
He said the youth council might be well placed to consult the council on what the people want.
The debate came at an opportune time, with the council in the midst of creating a new parking strategy which will address community concerns about parking availability and security.