Advocates and city step up efforts to bring a skatepark to Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE — Martinsville could be getting its own skatepark soon.

The city has entered into an agreement with Hunger Skateparks to use the company's consultation and design services. Hunger Skateparks specializes in designing and building skateparks and has built several skateparks throughout Indiana and in states such as Utah, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Mack Porter, the executive assistant to Mayor Kenny Costin, shared an overview of the timeline and what the next steps are on the $16,000 project.

"What this does is just do the design work, it does not commit them (Hunger Skateparks) to the construction of it," Porter said. "They would have to bid like anybody else. But as far as design goes, they are one of the leading designers in the country."

How will location and design be determined?

The process begins with a meeting between city officials and the company to establish a budget and timeline for the project. This will involve surveying several sites to determine possible locations. Once a suitable location is determined, Hunger Skateparks will conduct a site survey to assess visual traffic, topography and drainage.

Several locations are being considered for the skatepark, including a portion of Southview Drive and an area in front of the Morgan County Jail.

There will be a large emphasis on community engagement throughout the project. The design phase will also feature an online, public survey to gather feedback. Local skateboarders will be encouraged to participate. The data will then be used to supplement grant writing to help offset construction costs.

Several meetings will also take place to give the public an opportunity to comment on proposed designs.

The first meeting will focus on the presentation of initial design ideas to get the community thinking about the type of features it wants the skatepark to have, Porter said.

A second meeting will then take place to present conceptual designs to the community and gather feedback on specific features and layouts. Revisions will then be applied to the original design renderings depending on community responses.

A third and final meeting will introduce the finished design and animation. Feedback at this stage will influence final specifications covering heights, spacing and edging.

Porter said Hunger Skateparks is right for this project.

"I met in late April with Tony Hawk Foundation, which is a leading advocate for skateparks, and I asked them, 'What do you think about Hunger Skateparks?' and they smiled and said, 'We like their work,'" Porter said. "I have gone around and visited about 12 skateparks in central Indiana and of those 12, I would say that seven of them were built by Hunger. So they have a very strong reputation here in central Indiana."

A group consisting of parents and community members brought a petition before the city council requesting the city add a skatepark in March. The advocacy group has received widespread support, with its Change.org petition receiving 1,560 signatures to date.

This advocacy to increase the number of recreational options for youth kickstarted the push to bring a skatepark to Martinsville.

A committee charged with overseeing the project consists of councilmembers Phil Deckard, Suzie Lipps and Ann Miller.

What are the next steps?

Hunger Skateparks estimates the project could take between 12 and 16 weeks to complete.

The consultation, layout and conceptual renderings cost $8,500, with gathering construction documents costing an additional $7,500. The city will cover $8,000 while the advocacy group will pay the remaining balance through a combination of grants and fundraising.

The city must provide Hunger Skateparks with an estimated budget, a geotechnical report featuring soil recommendations and site restrictions.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Martinsville could be getting a skatepark thanks to community push