Mayor's Corner: Skate Park Upgrades
One of the many wonderful things about Lakewood is the different options our residents have to keep active across our city. With so many parks, pools, courts, and even an ice rink, Lakewood offers an array of enjoyable opportunities to stay healthy and keep moving. One of our most popular offerings is the Skate Park at Lakewood Park.
The Lakewood Skate Park was the first professionally designed skate park in Northeast Ohio when it opened nearly 20 years ago. (My father, Tom, served as mayor of Lakewood, when it was built, so you can understand my personal affection for this project.) This fall, the skate park will undergo a major $550,000 renovation and upgrade that will add new elements and refresh others. The skate park project is a “design build” effort being led by California Skateparks, the premier expert in the field of skateboarding facilities.
Last summer, the City’s Planning and Development Department worked with California Skatepark to issue a public survey. That effort generated over 750 responses, which provided key information on priorities for the future of the skate park. California Skateparks used this information to come up with an initial plan that we then presented at a public meeting where dozens attended to provide feedback.
When completed, the project will include upgrades to the existing footprint of the skate park and an expansion that incorporates three additional sections for: 1) a hip and turnaround zone; 2) a rail and flatwork zone; and 3) a flow bowl. Work in the existing footprint will include the addition of a taco as well as overall repair and maintenance work on the current facility. Taken together, this represents a significant upgrade in the overall space and unique features available for skateboarders to enjoy.
A big thank you goes out to the local skateboarding community and our Lakewood residents who helped inspire and inform this project. Their input was essential to helping our professionals come up with a great design. I also need to thank our public works and planning and development departments for their joint efforts in guiding this project along the way. They continue to do great work for Lakewood.
Construction on the skate park upgrades began this week and the project is expected to continue into the winter season. The work was scheduled during colder weather months to limit the impact on usage of the skate park as well as nearby amenities including tennis/pickleball and basketball courts, which will see some closures to accommodate construction. A grand reopening should happen in the spring of 2025, just in time for better skateboarding weather and the 20th anniversary of the skate park.