Mehen Memorial Skatepark Prepares to Open
Mehen Memorial Skatepark in New Meadows is emerging quickly and currently plans to open with a ribbon cutting and skate competition on Saturday, September 27. The project, begun by New Meadows residents Rory & Sara Mehen, continues as a legacy to their memory and vision after the couple was tragically murdered in 2022.
The New Meadows Skate & Bike Park has been billed as a place that will welcome all people-powered wheels, including the obvious skateboards and bikes but also welcoming scooters and skates. Their stated mission is to create a space for people of all ages to recreate responsibly, close to home, and increase the quality of life for New Meadows citizens. They add a goal to also enrich youth’s liking of skateboarding and biking, giving them a sense of belonging and provincial pride.
Grindline Skateparks, a full service design & build company specializing in skateparks, was hired by the New Meadows Skatepark. They held community meetings to gather feedback and requests and designed a park reflecting the community input, unique aspects of New Meadows, as well as the important and memorial history behind the park’s planning. Over the summer, frames were built to form the outline of the skatepark. In the last month, concrete was sprayed and shaped. Contractors are continuing to smooth and perfect the park design and install finishing touches including stairs and rails forming a world class skatepark.
Representatives from the Park said the community has been great at supporting this project in every way they can. The City of New Meadows has donated equipment use, which park representatives said was a big help.
Fundraising efforts have brought in around $540,000, making the project 90% funded. The group continues to work to bring in money and says they were fortunate to be part of Brundage Mountain’s concert series last month which helped with fundraising efforts.
With the Park’s opening on the near horizon, check nmskatepark.org for updates or to donate to this community project.
