Proposed Grand Rapids skate park ramps up for development in Clemente Park

Deborah Johnson Wood

The development of a skate park in Grand Rapids got the signal to start rolling when the Grand Rapids City Commission approved the proposal at Tuesday's commission meeting. A committee of the Sixth Street Bridge Community Coalition worked for several months with the city's Parks & Recreation department to develop the proposed Clemente Skate Park in an underused area of Clemente Park, 546 Rumsey SW.

"The part of the park near B Street has a tennis court that hasn't been used for probably 10 years," says Chris Gray, committee chair of the coalition. "It's close enough to downtown and it's just unused, with lots of trees."

Gray is quick to point out that the north portion of Clemente Park will remain as is, with actively used soccer fields. He also notes that skate park plans are in the beginning stages and the planning group still needs to raise some $350,000 for the project.

Preliminary plans are to incorporate different styles of skate parks by connecting paved paths that stretch over rolling, shaded terrain to pods of activity, such as ramps and a concrete bowl.

"One of the big parts of our plan is to keep the area as is by not removing any of the living trees," he says. "We want to keep it really wooded to keep it a unique park, and we want it to be a park that people want to go to for other things like biking and walking."

Gray, a photographer and artist, designs apparel for Premier Skateboarding, a supporter of his work with the skate park. He hopes to feature urban art in the park. Another aspect could include providing a small garden space for nearby Southwest Community Campus school. Construction on the park could begin in early 2011.

A June 20 kickoff celebration at Rosa Parks Circle will include skateboard competitions, giveaways and opportunities for participants and spectators to contribute toward the skate park's development fund.

Source: Chris Gray, Clemente Skate Park

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].