Bucksport skate park opens for the season

Community response to the all-volunteer run park is “overwhelmingly positive”

Skate Bucksport welcomed skaters of all ages back to the park on opening day. Photo courtesy of Skate Bucksport.

April 21, 2026

By Emily Baer

BUCSKPORT—Organizers behind Skate Bucksport, the all-volunteer committee that built and maintains the town’s seasonal skate park, announced last week that the park has officially reopened. It first opened in 2023.

Bucksport resident Derek Cole, a driving force behind the park’s creation, says the community response to the park has been “overwhelmingly positive” from the start. Over the years, visitors have ranged from young children walking over from the playground to teens hoping to hone new skills—and parents grateful for an alternative to more structured activities, like sports or formal clubs.

A beginner biker practices riding on the half pipe at Bucksport’s seasonal skate park. Photo by Emily Baer.

“It’s a great place for youth to be outside,” Cole said, noting that kids of all ages ride skateboards, scooters, and bikes in the park. Some have come to see it as a place to meet up with friends and socialize.

Cole said that the park, which is installed each spring and packed up eachfall, is maintained by an all-volunteer committee that handles everything from storage and repairs to fundraising.

Support for Skate Bucksport has also come from across the community, including local carpenters, educators, all of whom have volunteered to help with handiwork, programming, and more.

“The town has been extremely supportive, too, ” Cole said. “They really listened when we first brought them our idea and have been great since.”

The town provides administrative support when needed, but the project itself is fully funded and maintained through volunteer effort, grants, and donations. Overseeing it all is a committee of committed participants who are dedicated to the park’s long term vision.

Last spring, the Bucksport Town Council approved plans to create a permanent skate park at its current site on Elm Street. The permanent park would increase its existing footprint by expanding into a nearby grassy area adjacent to RSU 25’s central office.

Now, the group is working with the town to issue a request for proposals for the design of a permanent concrete skate park. Securing funding for that design phase is the next major step.

Cole said the group’s long-term goal is to raise “between $300,000 and $500,000” to construct a new, concrete park. Once plans and cost estimates are in place, organizers expect to ramp up grant writing and larger fundraising efforts.

In the meantime, they’re focused on small-dollar fundraising through an ongoing bottle drive at the Family Friendly Bottle Barn drive. The committee is also planning to host several small events at the park this year, including informal gatherings and competitions.

Cole acknowledges that the goal of building a permanent skate park in Bucksport is still in its early stages, but says that the project’s momentum continues to build through grassroots fundraising and strong local support.

“This is really a community thing,” Cole said. “Everyone is welcome at the park, and anyone interested in helping, in whatever way they can, is great.”

Cole said an open call for volunteers remains in place for those interested in helping with labor, programming or fundraising. Those interested in learning more about the park can contact the committee by emailing skate.bucksport@gmail.com. The park is open to the public.