New South Bend skate park hopes to attract students
By JOHN FANNING
News Writer
Student skaters' and rollerbladers' prayers for an area skating park have been answered.
South Bend Parks and Recreation recently opened the O'Brien Skate Park on Michigan Street just north of the bypass. The 13,000-square-foot concrete park, designed by the California Skate Company, features quarter-pipes, half-pipes, bowls, steps, ramps and rails and caters to all ages and skill levels.
"Skateboarders are probably the most neglected recreational facilities users that there are. They grow up being chased out of more public areas, and so we wanted to provide a safe place for them to skate," said Paul McMinn, a member of the city parks board who was a driving force behind the park's construction.
In addition to providing for the needs of a typically neglected recreational group, McMinn also cited skate park construction as an increasing trend across the United States.
"Around 300 skate parks a year are being built across the U.S.," McMinn said, "In fact, a lot of Notre Dame students probably have them in their hometowns."
Though at first South Bend officials were skeptical that the facility would be able to pay for itself, as was the intention of the park board, McMinn does not see this as a problem. The park, which opened in July and cost about $400,000 to construct, charges a small entrance fee and is already generating around $4,000 per week. Admission during the week costs $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents — the category most Notre Dame students fit into — while on the weekends entry is $3 and $5, respectively.
In addition to the daily skating, which is available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. until 10 p.m, Thursday to Saturday and 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday, there are also events and competitions periodically scheduled for more serious skaters.
In the near future, the park will hold an amateur skating competition for both inline skaters and skateboarders called "SK8 Jam 2002." The two-day event, which takes place on Sept. 14 and 15, is sponsored by Pepsi and will feature professional skateboarding superstar Mike Frazier.
However, according to McMinn, the primary focus of the park is to provide a safe place for those in the South Bend area to come and practice a sport that is not traditionally provided for. The park is staffed at all times in case of injury, and all participants are required to wear helmets, though McMinn said, "We have only had a few minor injuries since we opened in July."
Also, in order to ease concerns of skeptical parents, the facility invites parents to come in and watch and provides snack bar facilities as well as an extensive stereo system.
Contact John Fanning at jfanning@nd.edu.
All News Stories for Friday, August 30, 2002
