Community invited to provide input on skate park design

Hunger SkateParks, the firm contracted to design and build the long-awaited Rhinelander skate park, will unveil its preliminary design on Dec. 5, Rhinelander city administrator Patrick Reagan told the members of the Common Council Monday evening.

As part of his report to the council, Reagan noted that he had been asked to provide the alderpersons with an update on the skate park project.

The soil borings for the proposed site, in Hodag Park, have been completed and sent to Hunger SkateParks, Reagan reported.

Also, a “Skatepark Input Party” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 5 at ArtStart (68 South Stevens Street) “where the current, proposed design, for the skate park will be presented.”

The skate park project has been in the works since early 2021 when representatives of the Over It coalition reached out to the common council seeking support for the idea of constructing a new park. 

The teens explained that skateboarding is becoming increasingly popular among local youth and a skate park would be an open, safe space for them to get together.

The teens noted that they are aware Rhinelander once had a skate park located behind the fire department and that plans for adding a skateboarding area to Hodag Park were removed when the final park plan was approved by the council.

After a second presentation was made in April 2021, members of the council expressed support for the skate park idea and advised the group to keep working toward their goal.

On Dec. 27, 2021, two weeks after representatives of Over It spoke to the alderpersons regarding an update on the project, the council passed a resolution specifically pledging to “commit staff resources to assist with preplanning” and, later in the process, meet with the Over It coalition to discuss the funding, construction, ownership, operation, and liability for the park.”

In February 2022, the council approved a proposal from ArtStart, a local nonprofit focused on the arts and cultural engagement, to facilitate a feasibility study. That study, including recommendations, was presented to the council in late July 2022.

Following that presentation, discussions related to proposed locations took place and the council voted to pledge $75,000 in city funds to be used for the design and engineering of the park. 

The next step was to send out a request for qualifications for design and engineering services. The council ultimately chose Hunger SkateParks, following the recommendation of an ad hoc skate park steering committee that studied the proposals.

“Our approach to park design and building involves a high level of collaboration to develop projects unique to the users it will serve,” Hunger SkateParks said in its written submission to the city. “Hunger Skateparks highest aim is to create balanced and creative parks that inspire a large audience. A successful park is a well-used park. We will work with the community throughout the design process, taking into accounts local skaters’ input as well as our design think tank of seasoned skateboarder designers. The end result will be a balanced and creative park suitable for the many styles of skateboarding.”

For more information about the Skate Park Input Party, contact ArtStart at (715) 362-4328. For more information on Hunger SkateParks, visit www.hungerskateparks.com.