05/02/2018
**UPDATE: May, 2 2018-The Park Board unanimously approved the final design concept for an expansion to the Stevens Point Skatepark. Final approval at city council meeting May, 21 2018!! Stevens Point RULES!
DIY skate spots are popping up across the country and around the world. On overlooked pieces of industrial land and abandoned stretches of urban pavement, skateboarders, using limited resources and available materials are-little by little-building some of the most fun and famous places to skate. One hurdle they often face, is that they are either built on private property or on public land not approved by local government. This can become a serious problem for the skaters involved when someone decides they don't want the liability of a skatepark built on their property. This often means skaters having to demolish and remove their hard work and occasionally legal action and big fines. It's hard enough to get away with these projects in big cities, but almost impossible in smaller towns.
People don't always create these spaces because there is no local skatepark. There are a few common motives that lead to the building of DIY skate spots, but it's usually a combination of a lack of natural terrain, filling a niche that is missing from an existing skatepark or just the desire to build something and the determination and passion to make it happen. Though a variety of factors can spark folks to build their own fun, the outcomes have one thing in common: they are a solution. A simple, grass roots solution.
Skateboarding was born, and continues to thrive, on natural feaures in the urban landscape that were never designed for our use: Rails, banks, curbs, ledges, ditches, walls, parking lots, poles, planters, rocks... the simple stuff found all around us. Skateboarders are constantly seeking and reinterpreting features of the built and natural environment and finding ways to have fun within it. And when it comes to building something FOR skateboarding-whether it's a DIY or a million dollar skatepark-central to the project is the objective of creating features that replicate, or are inspired by the best "natural" terrain.
Though now entering its 9th successful year, the effort to get the Stevens Point Skatepark began well over 10 years ago. But ever since the skatepark was little more than ideas and sketches, there has always been the goal of one day building a "Phase 2". And we are pleased to announce that the time for that expansion has come.
In Stevens Point, people place a value on supporting local businesses, events and endeavors, and we are grateful that the city government, park board, community and area businesses had the vision to see the value of a skatepark, as well as the courage and commitment to invest in making it happen. Thanks to the generosity of the Seramur Family Foundation, Delta Dental, UWSP Student Government Association, County Materials, Travel Guard Chartis, BMO Harris, the Tony Hawk Foundation and our beloved "anonymous" benefactor, we have a great skatepark to show for it. We invite all of our original supporters to join us in making this new addition to the Stevens Point Skatepark and hope it will enjoy the same support from the community as the original project... while maybe even attracting some new interest.
In the spirit of these beloved DIY skatepark projects, this expansion features a simple design created by local skateboarders to fill a niche, and goes on to incorporate original visual art by Alexander Lee Landerman, integrated metal sculpture by HammerBuilt Custom Fabrications, elements from the natural world and repurposed materials, that will be brought together by skilled local craftsmanship. It will dramatically energize and synergistically enhance the offerings of our existing skatepark, and go well beyond by yielding a unique asset and aesthetic element to Stevens Point, even for people drawn to the riverfont for other purposes, and whom have never set foot on a skateboard. Aditionally, this grass-roots project is centered on community investment, involvement and enrichment, support of the arts, artists, outdoor activities and local business by utilizing the resources available here... and for a LOT less money!
The Stevens Point Park Board unanimously approved the final design for the skatepark expansion. The Common Council later gave the plan unanimous final approval. The expansion of the skatepark is ready to go... with your help.
Below, you will find a preliminary architectural drawing of the expansion to the Stevens Point Skatepark, provided by the Rettler Corporation. Some minor adjustments will be made, including the detailing of art features, but this reflects the working blueprints going forward.
This is pretty exciting stuff for us! So if you, your employer or your business would like more information on how you can be be involved in the this project, please message us here.
Thanks for the continued support, let's make this happen!
