City OKs skate park plan

After being banned from downtown streets, campus areas and many business parking lots, skateboarders are now closer than ever to having a place where they can legally practice their sport.\nThe proposal to build a skate park in Bloomington was introduced by local skateboarders over four years ago. Their demands were met two weeks ago when the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department announced it will begin the design phase of a 15,000 square foot skate park at Upper Cascades Park and Golf Course. The addition will feature courses for both street and transition skateboarding, and is expected to be completed this fall.\n"We wanted to wait for technology to mature before we could make our final decisions," John Turnbull, division director of sports at the Parks and Recreation department said. "We are positive that this sport (skateboarding) will have lasting power."\nHefty donations from John Mellencamp, Monroe County Bank and the City of Bloomington helped to move the project along. Local skateboarders also raised a large sum of money through benefit shows. Rick Olsen, owner of True Skateboards, has remained active in pursuing skate possibilities. Olsen said he is grateful the city is finally realizing the need for the park.\n"Bloomington has tons of basketball courts, soccer fields and baseball diamonds," he said. "It's long overdue that the city decided to devote their time and money to other mainstream projects."\nThe decision to build the park was originally put on hold because of strong opposition from the community. The skate park raised concerns about damage to the surrounding areas, as well as possible skateboarding accidents.\n"Skateboarders will not stop practicing the sport they love just because they might get in trouble," Olsen said. "Kids will continue to skate either way, and the skate park will at least guarantee them a legal area."\nLocal police officers have been more lenient on skateboarding violations since the issue of building a park was raised. However, by law, skating violations could lead to large fines, confiscation of skateboards or arrests.\n"We try to deal with community complaints when skateboarders are on private property, but skateboarding is not a major police concern," said Sgt. Faron Lake of the Bloomington Police Department.\nJon Edwards, a Bloomington resident who has been skateboarding for 15 years, is relieved he can finally skate without worrying about breaking the law.\n"I was arrested on campus last year for walking with my skateboard," Edwards said. "I had to pay a fine and go to court. It was a big hassle."\nOlsen said he is pleased with the community's response following the announcement to construct the skate park.\n"Everyone has shown a lot of interest and support regarding the skate park," Olsen said. "Bloomington is finally realizing that this has the potential to be a positive thing"