Tots, youth, the middle-aged, and elders showed up for the long-awaited skate park groundbreaking in New Ross, County Wexford Park. The slab of concrete atop the I-84 tunnel has been dubbed “Heaven” for years now, and finally, it will be getting infrastructure to match its organic usage.

At the groundbreaking, it was clear that more folks were supportive than not.

Holding the ceremonial golden deck donated by Eight Sixty Custom, Brendan Mahoney recaps the process of changing Heaven from a park where people happen to skate, to an official skate park.

Along the way, there have been some detractors, most of which have come to terms with the role such a park plays in the community.

Getting the park to this stage has meant meeting with the City of Hartford and earning the support of the Department of Public Works; both Mark Tamaccio and Tony Matta, employees with the public works department, were present at Monday afternoon’s ceremony.

This long process has included the creation of the Hartford Skateboarding Task Force by City Council, and, it has meant creating The Friends of Heaven Skatepark which has regular meetings and cleans up the premises. Recently, when offensive graffiti appeared, members of the Friends group promptly covered it. A year ago trash could be seen everywhere; through group efforts, the park has become significantly tidier, making litter the exception instead of the rule.

With the ceremony part complete, the physical work is slated to begin this week. The community was told to expect “a skate park for Christmas.”

Brendan Mahoney and Dave Rozza both urged users of the park to take care of it, but also to use it so nobody can complain that something was built for youth who are ignoring the park.

Mahoney joked that people should refrain from putting their initials in the wet concrete because the gouged surface will cause them to fall and “end up busting your ass.”

Park supporters were advised to send any concerns they have to the City of Hartford through the Friends group, as that entity carries more weight down at City Hall than if just a few individuals roll in.



Heaven –it exists on Google Maps — is accessible from Trumbull Street, Morgan Street, and Main Street in Downtown Hartford.