Groundbreaking for Ann Arbor Skatepark set for Friday
City of Ann Arbor
A rendering of the approved construction design for the Ann Arbor Skatepark. Construction is set to begin this month.
The Ann Arbor City Council approved a construction contract for the skatepark at its July 15 meeting. Construction could begin this month with a target opening date in the spring of 2014.
The Ann Arbor Skatepark will be a 30,000 square-foot world-class facility free to the public. It will include kidney pools ranging from 5 to 9.5 feet deep, clover and flow bowls, rock ride, a slappy curb and a snake run.
There will also be a barrier-free path from the skatepark to both parking lots as well as a stage area for events. Native plants, bioswales and retention areas are among the landscape and stormwater-management design features.
The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark have worked with the city of Ann Arbor as well as the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to get a skatepark constructed.
The ceremony, which will include remarks and a brief photo opportunity, will take place at the future location of the facility on the northwest side of Veterans Memorial Park. Parking is available off of both Dexter Avenue and Maple Road.
Comments
Jon Saalberg
Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.
@Arboriginal: "Marquette has a taco truck as well." Yes, and they are great tacos. I suppose a taco truck would have to run the gauntlet of the DDA, which is only interested in humungous underground parking decks. @Nicholas Urfe: Marquette is a about one-fifth the size of Ann Arbor, so a one-fifth expenditure seems about right for the Marquette park, compared to Ann Arbor's park - relative to each city's size, it's the same cost.
Veracity
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 5:38 p.m.
None of the extraction of tax payer money from City and County funds to build the skateboard park is justifiable and was accomplished without citizen input. I wonder how much influence Stephen Kunselman had in arranging the transfer of funds since he is such an avid skateboard fan. Does everyone remember the picture of Stephen and his skateboard that appeared in an annarbor.com story about the July 4th parade? Did you notice the absence of safety gear? Not a very good example for the skateboarding youth of Ann Arbor. http://www.annarbor.com/news/city-council-approves-moving-forward-with-ann-arbor-skatepark-construction/
Usual Suspect
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:25 p.m.
Wondering if this will last any longer than the half-pipe that once existed at the same park years ago. Why did that go away, and what will be different this time?
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:15 p.m.
A cost of $1,224,311 and all of it taxpayer funded except for $100K. With $400K in last minute funding from Ann Arbor taxpayers, who had no opportunity for public comment on that surprise $400K. Why didn't they scale the design back, and expand it later? How much will it cost to insure and who pays?
Peregrine
Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 2:11 p.m.
@Veracity: Seriously? You're one of those who casually toss around the term "rape"?
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
The city identified funds from a variety of sources to make up the gap. •$110,463 from uncommitted funds available in the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage fund balance. The amount reflects a $45,000 decrease in the amount the city will contribute, because the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark recently learned that they will receive a $50,000 grant from the Knight Foundation. Of that, $5,000 will go into the maintenance endowment. •$80,000 from the city's stormwater capital budget for rain gardens, to be repaid as a loan to the state revolving fund (SRF). The city expects a 50% loan forgiveness on this amount. •$32,356 from the FY 2014 parks memorial and contributions fund (the Feldman Trust) for landscaping plantings. •$30,356 from the FY 2014 parks maintenance and capital improvements millage. •$22,977 from the FY 2014 parks and recreation services general fund operating budget – from the "parks fairness" funds resulting from other budget amendments made by the council. In addition, up to $103,159 in uncommitted funds are available in the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage fund balance to cover a 10% construction contingency. Any unspent portion of this amount will be returned to the fund balance.
JRW
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
Waste of $$
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:19 p.m.
I'm with others who have no problem with the park but who are also not all that satisfied by the stealth funding and the cost creep. When it's all over various governments (a/k/a taxpayers) will have funded like 90% of the cost. Here's a good article with a breakdown of where the funding comes from: http://annarborchronicle.com/2013/07/15/ann-arbor-skatepark-construction-okd/ Note in that article how easily council raided other "buckets" when it suited them.
TinyArtist
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.
If this facility is half as entertaining as these posts, it will be a mega-hit.
fjord
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 11:01 a.m.
It's a good thing that nobody makes decisions based on the comments on AnnArbor.com. Congratulations to all those who worked to make this happen. I dare say that a solid majority of the community supports you, despite what you read here. Even this childless, middle-aged, never-got-the-hang-of-skateboards guy is happy to see this happening.
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
Well I'm a commenter and I like both those things. There goes that theory.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
sigdiamond: you forgot the biggest thing many hate - surprise major expenditures of taxpayer money that are not on the council agenda, and with no opportunity for public comment.
sigdiamond
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
The skate park combines two things the commenters on this web site hate more than just about anything else: exercise and people having a good time.
Veracity
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 8:13 a.m.
"Disruptive behavior" causes skate park closing" This happened at Alvin, Texas on June 8, 2013 and too late to be included in Tony Hawk's Foundation survey of successfully operating skateboard parks. http://www.alvinsun.net/news/article_e5d76624-2e2a-52be-87b6-67720f1fd1cb.html
AimeeMConat
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 5:55 a.m.
This is a link to a feasibility study done in 2009 for Marion County in Florida. http://www.marioncountyfl.org/Parks/PR_Updates/SkateparkFeasibilityStudy.pdf
AimeeMConat
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 5:28 a.m.
Not that I've really ever witnesses anyone make a negative comment and then come back to see if their claims were refuted, but for those who read this anew or do come back, there was a memorial skate park the recently broke ground in Pittsburgh - a city with roughly the same demographics as Ann Arbor. Part of their research was a police study done by the Tony Hawk foundation that covered 102 police officers in 37 states. Here is a link to the findings in that study: http://www.pitcherpark.com/police-study.html Overall, the study found that there was no significant increase in the crimes most people associate with skate boarding - drug use, assault, robberies, vandalism - and in some cases, decreased crime. As the study points out, having skate parks out in the open and visible makes it easier for neighbors and law enforcement to see if kids are skipping class and skating and if some are found to be doing so, they can be seen and the situation handled. I have no vested interest in a skate park. My daughter is 8 and loves her skate board, but like most 8 year-olds, she uses it when it comes into her line of vision and even then, only until something else shiny crosses her path. Skate boarding is an up-and-coming sport. There are national and international competitions for the sport and there has been a long push to get the sport into the Olympics. Like another poster said, better to have a place for those who want to practice to practice than doing it on public sidewalks, in front of business, or even in parking structures where the chances of serious injury rise greatly.
Veracity
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 7:57 a.m.
I would hardly expect the Tony Hawk Foundation to run an unbiased study of the impact of skateboard parks on communities, considering its involvement with skateboard activities. In view of this fact I was surprised that any problems were identified at any skateboard park. However, one common occurrence was injuries resulting from failure to use safety equipment and problems with parks that were isolated from other activities. As expected problems occurred more often with unsupervised skateboard parks. The Tony Hawk Foundation findings do not bode well for the future of Ann Arbor's skateboard park. Not only will the skateboard park not be fenced and supervised but it will be at the Northwest area of Veterans Memorial Park far from where spectators watch ball games or any other activities. Thus, the use of drugs and alcohol as well as physical violence to park users will not be easily detected and prevented. A similar situation led to the closing of a skateboard park in Vineyard, New Jersey after only thirteen months. However, if fencing and supervision are added to the plans of the skateboard park then the facility could operate safely and without incidences, with no need to consider terminating its operations.
Veracity
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 5:26 a.m.
For those who believe that all skateboard parks are successful and without problems please read the following article about Vineland, New Jersey's experience with their skateboard park and the situation involving insurance. "Mayor blames skateboard park closing on vandalism, insurance," by Joseph P. Smith, thedailyjournal.com, April 18, 2013 http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20130418/NEWS01/304180040/Mayor-blames-skateboard-park-closing-vandalism-insurance
Mangohater
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:51 a.m.
I'm very happy to see this happen! You guys have worked hard to get it going and have made it happen! Good job, an finally a place to skate!
YpsiGirl4Ever
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:36 a.m.
Do Ann Arbor have a Parks Commission or Park Advisory Board? If so, the Commission or Advisory Board efforts to assist the skatepark approval, was completed left out of this article.
John Roos
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:34 a.m.
Thanks for the years of detection to so many community members who worked to make the dream of a skate park in Ann Arbor possible! Looks like it's going to be a really great park. Can't wait!
Townspeak
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
it will be run down and abandoned in 5 years. waste of money on level of Y issue and art project. Nice work ann arbor.
fjord
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 10:58 a.m.
Detection? Er ... dedication?
rm1
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:14 a.m.
Someone said: "I believe the city is safe from lawsuits." If anyone cares to inform themselves, the scope of immunity from municipal liability is discussed here: http://www.mmrma.org/meetings/pdf/Governmental%20Immunity%20Update%20Handout.pdf There's more, if you Google for "Michigan municipal liability" or "Michigan municipal liability park".
Jon Saalberg
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:02 a.m.
It's nice to see that Ann Arbor is attempting to catch up to my wife's hometown, Marquette, which built a skatepark in a fraction of the time, and with hardly any public whining about how it wasn't necessary. Now if our city could only achieve a bike path to circumnavigate the city, also as Marquette did years ago, we'll be on the right track to appeasing the drivers who froth at bike traffic that dares to share the road with them.
Usual Suspect
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:21 p.m.
Yes, we need to catch up to Marquette! Where should we build the ore docks? Argo Pond or Geddes Lake?
Arboriginal
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
Marquette has a taco truck as well.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 2:32 p.m.
Marquette spent $233K. Far more modest than the a2 project. And the majority of it was raised by the skate plaza committee.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
How much did Marquette spend? Did they spend over a million bucks?
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
Sorry, we only envy Boulder.
seldon
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:50 a.m.
I'm not opposed to this project, but let's be honest about the source of the funding. It's over a million Dollars, and the fundraising covered only $100k of that. The rest has indeed come from public funds, which is not necessarily bad, but advocates need to stop pretending this thing was funded by private donors. Less than 10% of it was. Also, Ann Arbor just agreed to kick in up to $424,312 for the project. So yes, it's appropriate to question that given other city budget issues. It's all in this earlier article: http://www.annarbor.com/news/city-council-approves-moving-forward-with-ann-arbor-skatepark-construction/
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
That other article not linked via tags. You have to search to find it.
Tizz
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:37 p.m.
What a colossal waste of money!
Arboriginal
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:44 a.m.
Like those golf courses, tennis courts, jungle gyms, roads....blah...blah..
Nicholas Urfe
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:31 p.m.
How will this be insured? What protects the city from liability? Have they secured bids for insjurance yet? Who pays for that? After they went 50% over budget, I now question every aspect of the planning and assumptions.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:08 p.m.
@YpsiGirl4Ever: you seem sure about a lot of things that are not yet established fact. Those should have been established facts before the project moved forward. It seems a rider for a high risk activity would be very expesnsive. Who pays? I read that the area is not fenced, so what would force someone to sign a waiver at 3AM?
YpsiGirl4Ever
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:40 a.m.
Nicholas, all municipalities have rider policies for Public Park areas. In the case of this skate park, I'm sure A2 City Government will add additional riders to cover any liability against potential claims. Additionally, I'm equality sure once built, skaters will have to sign a waiver limiting A2 City Government liability in cases of injury not directly related to equipment at the Skatepark.
Arboriginal
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.
Better call Sam, Nicky. I believe the city is safe from lawsuits.
Tizz
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:38 p.m.
Good questions! I am outraged by this.
Nicholas Urfe
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:29 p.m.
I once supported this project until they went 50% over budget. And instead of scaling it back, the city council gifted them $424,312 with absolutely no warning or opportunity for public input. What was that? Greed? Gluttony? It did not need to be nearly that elaborate. They also changed the type of concrete reinforcement at the last minute, raising serious questions about the longevity of the structure and the cost to taxpayers when it crumbles apart and needs costly repairs. That major change in the funding source should require more accountability to the public they are asking to fund it. Big thumbs down for how they put this on the backs of the commuity via an obfuscated and non-transparent process.
DJBudSonic
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 10:51 p.m.
I think this skatepark is a good thing, and many other cities much smaller than Ann Arbor have installed skateparks with good results. My biggest concern was when it came to city council for the vote on funding, the estimated cost was quite a bit higher than originally planned for. The council then proceeded to pilfer funds from various sources to make up the shortfall. What they might have done instead was put the project on hold until the additional funding was secured by any of the interested parties. Why should we pay more that we budgeted for, without questioning it? The city's donations to the project are already substantial.
Arboriginal
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 10:26 p.m.
This place is gonna be busy! If we can pay for golf courses, we can afford a skatepark!
Arboriginal
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:39 a.m.
I bet that covers the cost, right?
Unknown
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:35 p.m.
*course
Unknown
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:30 p.m.
Don't forget people aren't golfing for free! They pay to use the corse, carts etc
nunya
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 10:22 p.m.
I like the idea of a skate park but, there should be a nominal fee charged and entry controlled with limited hours of operation. The fee charged would help to cover general maintenance and paid summer supervision of the park. If not safety will be sacrificed and it will become a danger zone for kids. And before the everyone says it should be free to the public since it is a public park - there is no such thing as free.
LAEL
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 2:45 a.m.
@Arboriginal Look at a map. There is housing across the street from the part of the park that is becoming the skate park. The Mapleridge and Parkside Commons complexes are right there.
a2cents
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:36 a.m.
Sounds like the uom athletic (& black iron fence) dept approach.
Arboriginal
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:45 a.m.
You lived at Aldi?
Paul
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
About time, we need more of these skate parks. Give the folks in great psychical shape more things to do. This is good clean healthy fun...so long as you don't fall down, lol
Halima
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 9:32 p.m.
I am very happy about this so that my neighbor's annoying kid can have a safe place to skate instead of noisily grinding and whatever else they call it outside in the street and on his homemade ramp. Probably neighbors of other teens all over town can join me in a quiet glass of lemonade on the porch.
Tizz
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:42 p.m.
They will still skate on the street and on their own homemade ramps. Sorry!
Tom Todd
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 9:20 p.m.
Congrats to all! some people prefer there kids sit in front of the computer or tv all day and get diabetes.
Basic Bob
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 10:21 a.m.
You don't "get diabetes" from the television, any more than you "get quadriplegia" from skateboarding.
Andrew
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 9:12 a.m.
Easy, how are you supposed to skate in an empty baseball field?
a2cents
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:32 a.m.
easy: enough of the team mayhem already...
matt1027
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:53 a.m.
their...
easy123
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 10:58 p.m.
There are empty baseball fields that could easily be used by these kids. I hardly see any using them. I would have thought some pick up soccer would work. Talk about displaced snotty remarks
Townspeak
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 8:06 p.m.
Who cares. Waste of money and priorities. Nice work kunselman. Glad you have all of city in mind. What a joke.
Townspeak
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:37 a.m.
I meant kunselmans over the top support of this project is a joke and makes his claim to focusing on roads and infrastructure quite hollow. It is very serious how we let major city parks, roads and other infrastructure rot while this ridiculous pet fad project for a few gets budgeting priorities. Any city official who supports this use of city funds, right now, should resign in disgrace.
Tizz
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:44 p.m.
I totally agree with you! Those who don' t agree have NO IDEA what a pain this is going to be.
Paul
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 9:45 p.m.
Its not so easy to sue anymore. Most slip and falls never make it to a jury, they just get thrown out of court if you try to sue.
Veracity
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 8:44 p.m.
Not funny at all when you consider that eventually a youth will become paralyzed from a skateboard injury and the city will have to pay a multi-million dollar legal judgement.
talker
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 8:06 p.m.
Still no fence or supervision planned for the skatepark which is the minimum requirement for skatepark insurance companies to issue policies. Since City Council committed tax payer dollars to the construction of the skatepark safety and appropriate usage should be enforced in order to prevent avoidable injuries from failure to use safety gear, risky tricks, fights, use of drugs and predatory activities. No such precautions are presently planned.
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
There's no supervision. Mandatory is irrelevant.
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.
Will helmets be mandatory? Seems reasonable.
Paul
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 9:49 p.m.
Adults should be able to use the park as they see please, well it terms of safety gear. I doubt if booze will be allowed and that is one place it should not be. Some young ones will going on and become a star at the park, its good clean fun. You can break a leg playing baseball/basketball yet the parks allow those sports to go on.
aarog
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.
Where will it be?
Ryan J. Stanton
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 6:04 p.m.
at the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park, at the corner of Maple and Dexter Roads
Kafkaland
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 5:46 p.m.
Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to make this happen!
matt1027
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 5:32 p.m.
No more late bus or grants to the middle schools, but a place for the drop outs to go when they aren't spray painting the local shops. That sends the right message.
brasks
Fri, Aug 23, 2013 : 8:48 p.m.
It's people like you that motivated me to work hard to get where I am today. I have a master's degree, a successful job and I have some mean varial heelflips. For the record, the last time I used spray paint was to touch up wear and tear on my deck furniture.
Andrew
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 9:10 a.m.
Because only dropouts will use the park. Most definitely.
microtini
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 2:29 a.m.
Between all of the spray painting, liquor store robbing, and old-lady mugging, I don't see how these ne'er do wells will find time to skate.
talker
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
Not just drop outs. Expect that many enrolled students will skip classes to use the skatepark, especially since no supervisor will be at the skatepark during school hours to prevent that from happening.
seldon
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 4:34 p.m.
Uh, no bathrooms?
yohan
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 10:39 a.m.
That's what the trees are for.
LAEL
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:59 a.m.
Will they really walk all the way past the ball parks or will they cross the street and try to use Aldi's and Knight's bathrooms?
Ryan J. Stanton
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 6:03 p.m.
There are restrooms at Veterans Park already.
yardy
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 4:31 p.m.
JRW, apparently you haven't been following this story for the past 5-7(?) years. This group has worked hard, gained support and raised much of the funds for this out of a passion for kids and the sport. This is not the city just throwing up a park and ignoring other priorities. Besides, our kids should ALWAYS be our highest priority.
Tizz
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:51 p.m.
You have NO idea how many injuries are going to occur and how much crime this place will draw. I'm sure the group has good intentions, they just aren't well informed.
eagleman
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:12 p.m.
Kids don't need a skate part, Yardy. What they need are quality schools. This is NOT a priority.
easy123
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 10:55 p.m.
Priority goes to those who squawk the loudest. If the highest priority was kids we would have graduation rates and accomplishments higher than Saline. This will be like the baseball fields - pretty much empty- with the exception of a few.
RUKiddingMe
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
Yardy, you are right about the group working hard and raising SOME funds. I was in support of this project as well, but it turns out they did a lot of publicity about the fundraising and not much at all about how much the city was putting in. It was only in a relatively recent story (probably on AnnArborChronicle.com and not A2.com, as I don't see it searching here) that I saw how much money the city is spending on it. It's QUITE a bit. Especially given all the handwringing about parks not having enough money for maintenance. A2's typical approach; "we don't have enough money to fix what we got; let's build a new one." Or even better, the approach we saw with the wind turbines; "this would be a huge waste even if we had the money for it; let's get two."
glenn thompson
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 6:29 p.m.
Let's be honest, most of the money was 'raised' from the city, county, and state governments.
JRW
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 4:12 p.m.
So the city has funds for a skatepark but can't fill the thousands of potholes, or fix crumbling roads. Nice priorities.
Tizz
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 11:49 p.m.
I totally agree and the people who are "not liking" your comment aren't thinking clearly.