The second community workshop for the local skating community was hosted by New Line Skateparks on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Ypsilanti Township Community Center. Two design concepts were presented and community members discussed which aspects they wish to be in the finalized design.
Construction of the skatepark will likely begin Spring 2020. It will be located at the corner of E. Clark and Midway.
“It gives people an opportunity to recreate that is not organized sports,” said Meghan Bonfiglio, deputy director of Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. “There’s just so many benefits. There’s social, economic, cultural and everything. But from what I’ve experienced from skaters I’ve worked with, it’s really just about the community. It gives people an opportunity to just be together in a great space that’s safe and help share their sport with others.”
The skatepark has been underway since the beginning of 2018. In fact, the idea of a new skatepark was suggested by a local skater. Through his connection to Trevor Staples, who was instrumental in the Ann Arbor Skatepark and now works for the Tony Hawk Foundation, the grant opportunity arose and the project began.
Built to Play offers matching grants up to $250,000 for public skateparks through a partnership between the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Tony Hawk Foundation. The Washtenaw County Parks Commission has committed to securing the funds for the Built to Play Skatepark Grant Match.
“I’m personally not a skater, but I have known friends who are, and from what I’ve noticed it’s a lot of building each other up, teaching each other and learning from others,” added Bonfiglio. “It’s just a really cool project to be a part of because everyone in that skate community is welcoming to each other and supportive of each other’s ideas.”
The date for the third Community Workshop is pending. To submit your own feedback about the new concept designs, take this survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YpsilantiSkateparkSurvey.
