Wolfe Park: It’s More Than a $kate Park and More Than We Can Afford

Troy Micklon
Oct 24
4 min read

In my last blog post, Building Smart, Not Just Big: Manchester’s Proposed $kate Park, I wrote about concerns over the skate park’s funding and its absorbent cost of about $5.5 million after bonding fees and interest.

After looking deeper into the broader Wolfe Park project, more questions emerged about transparency, priorities, and cost. I reached out to the Parks and Recreation Department to better understand the project’s full scope and potential price tag.

First, I want to thank Kathryn Waldo, Project Manager with the Parks and Recreation Department, for her quick and detailed response. She provided a helpful overview and shared the Project Phasing Plan, which outlines the city’s approach.

The plan, prepared by TFMoran, Inc. of Bedford, NH, states that “the phasing of the Wolfe Park master plan depends on many factors, largely on the budget,” and that “the phase pricing in the cost estimate is based on the following plan.” However, no cost estimates were included, and the material provided gives no clear picture of the project’s total cost.

The skate park is part of Phase 1B, along with several other improvements. So far, I have not found anything showing that Phase 1A work has begun or been completed. I sent a follow-up email asking for clarification on the funding and status of both Phase 1A and 1B, as well as the total cost estimates mentioned in the plan. I’ll share updates once I receive a response.

For a multi-year project of this size, residents deserve to see specific numbers before more spending is approved. Without them, it’s impossible to know the true financial commitment. While I support improving our parks and expanding recreation opportunities, the Wolfe Park project has grown from a simple upgrade into a multi-million-dollar plan the city cannot afford.

What the plan includes

The current proposal outlines three major construction phases, extending into Fiscal Year 2029. The scope goes far beyond a skate park.

Phase 1A: Upgrades to the softball field on the north side of Harvell Street, including field reconstruction, fencing, bleachers, drainage, and a new restroom and utility building.
Phase 1B: Demolition of the concession and baseball areas to build a 20,000-square-foot skate park and a central parking lot, along with new drainage, lighting, and infrastructure upgrades.
Phase 2: Adds eight pickleball courts, a half-mile solar-lit walking path, expanded parking, sidewalk and traffic-calming improvements, and an open-space picnic area.
Phase 3: Adds basketball court lighting, a playground expansion, little league field improvements, a bocce, cornhole, and horseshoe area, resurfaced parking lots, and a “Wolfe Park” entry archway.

Each phase adds construction, lighting, and maintenance costs. This is more than a skate park. It is a complete park overhaul.

The growing cost

The city has already allocated or planned roughly $3.1 million for early stages of the project:

FY25: $100,000 bond for master plan development and skate park design
FY26: $500,000 bond and CDBG grant for construction documents and early work
Mid-year proposed funding: $2.5 million

These numbers cover only the design, documentation, and initial construction. They do not include bonding costs, interest, or related fees, which will significantly increase the total price. Later phases add lighting, parking, and new facilities, pushing the cost even higher.

With construction expected to continue through 2029, expenses will also rise with inflation. And we haven't even taken into consideration future costs of maintaining all of these items.

Before taking on more debt, the city should reevaluate this project’s scale and funding model.

A better model already exists

Wolfe Park has already benefited from a successful public-private partnership. The basketball courts were upgraded last year through private donations led by Chris Brickley, with support from the Lids Foundation and cooperation from the city. That project was completed without adding to the city’s debt.

This shows what can be achieved through collaboration and community investment. Manchester should pursue a similar approach for the rest of Wolfe Park, relying on private contributions, grants, and nonprofit partnerships instead of long-term bonds that burden taxpayers for years.

Fiscal responsibility and community priorities

Everyone wants better parks, but Manchester has many competing needs. Spending millions of dollars we don’t have on one park project while roads deteriorate and schools struggle is not responsible planning. The city should:

Reevaluate the Wolfe Park project to focus on essentials rather than amenities.
Explore fundraising and grants similar to the basketball court model.
Provide full cost estimates and transparency so residents understand what they are paying for.

Final thought

Manchester deserves quality parks, but also accountability. The Wolfe Park plan may have started as a good idea, yet it has grown into a project far beyond what the city can responsibly manage. I will continue engaging with the Parks and Recreation Department and city officials for more information and will keep residents updated as new details emerge.

If we remain guided by values like fiscal responsibility, transparency, and collaboration, and focused on outcomes that truly serve residents, we can improve our parks without overburdening taxpayers.