New home planned for alternative sports

Bloomington officials are beginning a search for a designer to build a new park. There might be benches, but they won't be used for sitting. There might be handrails, but not for holding while on a walk. And there will probably be a vertical wall, but it won't be adjoined to any building.\nIf this sounds like an unusual kind of park, that's because it is being designed specifically for skateboarders and in-line skaters.\nBloomington Parks and Recreation officials announced Tuesday that the skateboard park they were creating has just received a little extra help.\nThe Tony Hawk Foundation, which supports programs focused on creating public skate parks, awarded the Bloomington Parks Department a $1,000 grant. The money is to be used to hire a professional designer to create the new skating park, which will tentatively be located in Upper Cascades Park.\n"The Tony Hawk Foundation only provides funds for high-quality public skateboard parks," Mayor John Fernandez said in a statement. "Receiving this grant is a clear indication we are moving in the right direction."\nThe Tony Hawk Foundation was founded by professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, and encourages the city to hire designers and contractors that have experience with building good skateboarding facilities.\n"One of our staff members suggested a designer from California," said Mick Renneisen, director of Bloomington Parks and Recreation. "He's designed several parks in Indiana and the Midwest, like the one in South Bend and Louisville (Ky.). We've seen some of his designs, and we are in contact with him."\nRenneisen said the park was decided on last year, when the Parks Department felt the community had made it clear that the park was needed. \n"I would say there has always been an interest in a skate park," Renneisen said. "We had one before in the '90s, called Maple Foot, but that was before the creation of good skate park materials. It was built primarily of concrete and plywood, and eventually we had to close it. But now there are better materials, and there is obviously an interest in skateboarding."\nLocal residents said they think the new park will be a great addition.\n"I think Bloomington is very cultural, but they do lack the availability for skaters to go and practice," senior Chrissy Thomason said.\nThe Parks Department has been working closely with the Bloomington For Alternative Sports and Training group to put this plan in action. The location for the new park was scouted by representatives for both the Parks Department and B-FAST, and they said they chose Upper Cascades because it was the best location in terms of availability and land space. \nRenneisen also said that B-FAST would be consulted during the planning and construction of the new park.\n"We're very excited to be able to provide a venue for this unique recreation," Renneisen said.