County Executive Announces $200,000 Grant to Help Build Madison's First Skate Park
July 01, 2013
Casey Slaughter Becker, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 843-8858
County Executive
Proposed Park Would Be Accessible to Skaters of All Skill Levels, Styles, Ages
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today that the Dane County Parks Commission has approved recommendation of a $200,000 grant to help build Madison’s first outdoor concrete skate park.
Parisi and skate park advocates made the announcement at Madison’s Central Park, the proposed future site of the skate park.
“Madison’s first skate park will benefit our outdoor recreation economy and help even more people get connected with this popular sport,” said Parisi. “Preliminary plans for this exciting project hold great promise for this park to become a regional destination for skaters of all skill levels.”
The county’s $200,000 PARC grant for the Madison Skatepark Fund would help the group construct an appropriate outdoor concrete area for skaters of all skill levels, styles, and ages. Preliminary plans for the skate park include an artificial street course comprising 75% of the park, and a pool section with gentle transitions that range from three to eight feet in depth.
“This skate park will draw athletes from a wide part of the state, so I am pleased that Dane County is joining us in making this a truly regional facility,” said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. “I am confident this grant will spur other donations and move the park closer to reality.”
Skateboarding has grown steadily in popularity – Dane County communities Mount Horeb, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee, and Middleton all have skate parks.
"A public skate park in Madison is long overdue, but with this generous award, Dane County is joining the City of Madison and the Tony Hawk Foundation to help the Madison Skatepark Fund build the destination facility our area has been waiting for," said Patrick Hasburgh, Spokesdude, Madison Skatepark Fund.
Thanks to the generous grant from the Dane County Parks Commission, we are getting closer to the creation of Madison's first public skatepark. With the help of the County's PARC fund, City of Madison and the Tony Hawk Foundation, the Madison Skatepark Fund is 2/3 of the way to raising the funds needed.
The skatepark is part of the vision for Central Park, a test bed for urban sustainability and resiliency strategies in the Williamson-Marquette Neighborhood. I fully expect this skatepark to draw skaters from the broader community and to be a boon to not only to the neighborhood, but also to the entire area as it will be Dane County's first "destination skatepark".
Pending final approval by the Dane County Board, the grant would be made available through the PARC program. PARC partners the county with local communities looking to invest in projects that will help them strengthen their local economic development efforts through improvements to tourism, recreation, and conservation.
“Once complete, this skate park will be a great addition to downtown Madison and will serve people from around Dane County and beyond,” said Supervisor Matt Veldran. “The skate park will enhance all the city and the county’s parks have to offer.”
The Madison Skatepark Fund is continuing to raise money for the completion of their $750,000 project. PARC money awarded to the approved projects is matched on the local level by a local unit of government and or by the organization requesting the grant. In many cases, local supporters raise more money for their projects than the county’s contribution.
For those who wish to contribute to the Madison Skate Park Fund, please visit www.madisonparksfoundation.orgor call Stephanie Franklin, the Madison Parks Foundation Executive Director at 608-266-4339.
For more information about Madison Central Park, please visit: http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/about/CentralPark.cfm
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