Twin Lakes continues to consider skatepark options

skateboard-sxc-Brandon-Hansen-webThe Twin Lakes Park Commission continues to consider options for re-establishing a skate park in the village.

Fundraising for the park has gone on for several years, spearheaded by resident Elaine Valentine.

The village was close to having equipment for the park last summer when it agreed to purchase used equipment from Lake Geneva. However, the equipment was vandalized beyond repair before the equipment was able to be brought to the village.

Tuesday night, the commission was set to discuss and possibly act on buying a set of portable metal equipment for the park, to be placed on one of the Legion Park tennis courts that is no longer usable for tennis. Cost of that would be $7,999. A fund with money raised by Valentine through various efforts for the skate park has $3,970, said Jennifer Pollitt, village administrator.

But audience member Jeremy Witek, a Twin Lakes resident who builds skate parks and similar action sports facilities for a living, started a discussion about a better park. He said in his opinion the equipment being considered by the village wouldn’t hold interest for skaters for long.

Instead, Witek proposed having his company, Global Action Sports Solutions, build a park with better features. He initially proposed wood, but some commission members had objections and felt concrete would be better.

Witek acknowledged that a wood or concrete park would be much more expensive than the portable metal. However, he is offering his services free of charge so the only cost to the village would be materials.

Witek said he is willing to donate the work because he feels the park will offer a constructive activity for young people.

“I grew up rough,” Witek said. “If I didn’t have my bike, I’d be doing drugs or something.”

The commission also wants to explore putting the skate park closer to the road in Legion Park.

Ultimately the commission tabled the matter, asking Witek to provide a detailed plan with costs by next month’s commission meeting.

2 Shares

Comments are closed.

  • Follow us on

  • Archives