MIDDLEBORO — Work has begun on a new public park and skate park at 48 Wareham St., the former site of the Department of Public Works, located next to the Nemasket River.

The skate park is set to open in June 2026, according to Town Manager James McGrail. Surrounding the concrete facility will be a public park featuring walking paths, green space and a canoe launch. Approximately $1.5 million has been allocated to the project — half from a state grant, and the other half from Community Preservation funds and a private donation from the Pierce Trust.

The work will be completed in stages with the skate park coming first, per the requirements of the state grant. 

According to concept plans shared by town officials, the skate park will include half-pipes, rails, a bowl and other ramps and features for skateboarders, bikers and scooter riders. A parking lot will also be constructed adjacent to the facility.

The land will be graded, with 50% of the existing asphalt removed, and invasive plant species cleared to provide access to the river, said Town Engineer Michael Ohrenberger.

“Currently, you can barely see the river,” Ohrenberger said.

Once cleared, about 99 native shrubs and 19 trees will remain or be newly planted. Any new construction associated with the project will be set at least 200 feet away from the riverfront.

The first phase of development involves removing existing structures from the property. The current site includes the old DPW building, consisting of a newer addition connected to an older, original structure.

Middleboro recently received demolition approval for the entire structure from the Historical Commission. Designers had originally intended to repurpose the older building as a pavilion and bathroom facility.

McGrail said he had spent “quite a bit of time and money” exploring options to preserve the structure but ultimately had “to make a business decision.”

Due to structural issues and the presence of asbestos, estimates to salvage the building came in at about $1.7 million — a figure higher than the total project cost.

Bathroom facilities remain a priority for the site, McGrail said, and he intends to seek grant funding to build them, along with an adjacent gazebo. However, financing for those amenities may lag behind the rest of the development.

“I can hopefully secure a PARC grant, which is the grant that funded the skate park,” McGrail said, adding that those grants are capped at about $500,000 — the estimated cost of the bathrooms and gazebo.

The historical significance of the old DPW building will be honored in the new park with signage explaining the site’s relevance to Middleboro. The older structure was once home to Middleboro’s first car dealership.

“Coming up with a gameplan to honor this history is what's going to make it cool and make it pop,” McGrail said, noting that bricks from the building may be incorporated into park walkways.

Planning for the project began in 2021, when the DPW relocated from Wareham Street to its current facility at 65 Sachem St.

“The question was raised, ‘What are we going to do with this site?’” McGrail said. Surveys conducted by the town revealed “overwhelming” support for creating a public park.

Initial plans to renovate the existing skate park at 26 Jackson St. were complicated by grant requirements, prompting officials to transfer funding to the new location on Wareham Street.

McGrail said his support for the project was inspired by a similar skate park in Sandwich, where he lives.

“The reason I’ve advocated for this in the last few years is because of what’s transpired right near my house. People come from all over for the skate park,” McGrail said. “I don’t say that because I’m a hardcore skateboard advocate, I’m the total opposite. I’ve never participated in my life, but I drive by this thing every day and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

McGrail said he expects the park to become a regional draw.

“It’s more than just a skate park. We’re trying to create this public asset for the community,” he said.