The Reading Skatepark Association recently held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new skatepark located at 601 Canal Street in Reading.

Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy — a regional engineering, environmental, and surveying firm with an office in West Chester — provided full land development services, including surveying, site design/layout, subdivision/lot consolidation, permitting, stormwater management, erosion control, project coordination, utility design, and stadium lighting design.

SSM also prepared engineering cost estimates and technical specifications for bidding purposes, presented the project to the Reading Planning Commission, and provided overall project management.

The skatepark is a dream of Holistic Skateshop owner J.D. Turner.

“It takes a lot to change the world,” said Turner. “It really does. But I think at the ground level, changing the community, that’s something that we can all do together. And that’s something that we did here today.”

SSM obtained the required development and permit approvals from the city, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Berks County Conservation District.

With the skatepark configuration provided by Grindline Skateparks, SSM provided all associated civil site work. SSM guided Reading Skatepark Association through the city’s land development process. SSM surveyed with ground penetrating radar (GPR) to record a 96-inch-diameter pipe that bisected the site. Deed research revealed the site’s makeup of 50 lots, which were ultimately consolidated into a single lot.

The proposed project was funded by numerous grants including those from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the shoe company Vans, and local sponsors.

“This park is just one small thing making Reading a better place,” said Turner.

Learn more about how Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy is engineering solutions for a better world.