wilmette skate park blog

Skate Park Opened

2008-09-14T15:37:00.004-05:00

Today, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, the Wilmette Skate Park was officially opened in all of its concrete glory.
Check out photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30487866@N07/sets/72157607285723122/
Here's a short thank you video from me:

We Won

2007-07-20T13:38:00.000-05:00

I'm not in Wilmette anymore, but I heard the news. Wilmette will have a skatepark. Well done everybody. Thank you to every person who came to meetings and supported us. Thanks also to the Park Board for all of your work. I can't wait to see this thing when it is done.

Check out this article for more information.
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/wilmette/news/474369,wi-skate-071907-s1.article

Fianl planning meeting summary

2006-09-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

On thursday we had the final meeting for planning the skatepark. The plan was revealed ans it looks good. Ther is another meeting for the park board on the 11th. This is one of the less important meetings, but, it would still be appreciated if you came. Good work getting this far. Hopefully it will be done next year.

Final Plan

2006-08-28T15:56:00.000-05:00

I was just made aware of a meeting scheduled for this thursday. It is going to be at the community recreation center on the 31st. The big event of this meeting is the much awaited plan for the skatepark. I hope to see everyone there.

Spectacular meeting

2006-08-10T23:47:00.000-05:00

Hi again. On monday the 7th we had another meeting that really went perfectly. We saw some possibilities as far as plans went and gave constructive criticism. the company will come back to us in a couple weeks with a revised plan that will incoroporate our ideas and preferences with their knowledge and experience of what works and what doesnt. hope to see you all at the next meeting soon.

meeting 3

2006-07-27T16:38:00.000-05:00

I was informed of yet another meeting today. This will be the third and final meeting to plan out the skatepark. We are expecting them to revela their plans for the park. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 6:30 on august 7. Hope to see you there

Great meeting

2006-05-30T20:31:00.000-05:00

We had a splendid meeting tonight. This was the second planning meeting for the wilmette skatepark. A couple higlights are: 1)the location is going to be a parking lot near the recreation center, 2) it will be about 10,000 square feet, and 3) we hope to have it approved by this comming fall. It will be made of a prefabricated material(skate light or skate wave not concrete). We then designed potentials for the park and the meeting was over. Good job and thanks for comming to everybody who came. Hope to see you at the next one.

2nd planning meeting

2006-05-25T19:38:00.000-05:00

Hello again. There is another meeting planned for this comming tuesday May 30. It will take place at 6:30 at the community recreation center(see previous meeting post for details). Any further inquiries can be sent to me as an email at joeljar@gmail.com or you can call the park district at (847)256-6100. Hope you can come.

First planning meeting

2006-04-25T20:24:00.000-05:00

I am writing this following the first of three planning meetings. This one went just fine. A few things that came up in the meeting that we would like to avoid at the next meeting to make it go faster: Helmets are not up to the park district. The insurance companies will require signs posted saying that helmets are required at all times. Also, we have to go to three more planning meetins, get it passes with the park board, and then the zoning board, and finally have community hearings. They say we might be using this park this time next year. Thank you too all those that attended the meeting and check back for information to come.

Meetings

2006-04-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

April 25 there is a meeting at Community Recreation Center in Wilmette, 3000 Glenview Road. The meeting is at 6:30 in room 206. You can call the Park District at (847)-256-6100.

Everything is Going Swimmingly

2005-11-16T18:14:00.000-06:00

The park is, as far as the board is concerned, going to be built. The process is going to take about a year. There are still many ways that the park could be stopped. The plan is find some companies that would build a skatepark => start the bidding => get the plan approved by the village / create a design => Start construction. The location will be at Hibbard Park, which is the park at Glenview Road and Skokie Boulevard. It will be near the bus. The park is 8.3 acres, and is behind the recreation center, so it can be monitored. The design team that we had to evaluate the parks was 3D Design.

Sorry about such a delay

2005-11-14T18:12:00.000-06:00

Must likely people have stopped coming here months ago. The park has been voted on, it will be built, most likely, at Hibbard park. Hibbard park is behind the Rec. Center. Today there will be a meeting at 7:30.

July 18th

2005-07-05T11:34:00.000-05:00

Next meeting is july 18th at 7pm, it will be another public hearing completely on the skatepark. We had some coverage in the wilmette life, not as big as the first article, but it was good.

Hearing #1

2005-06-27T23:13:00.000-05:00

Congrats everyone who spoke at the meeting. Even the opposition did well when they weren't spouting lies or twisting facts. Ok so that was most of the time, but what are you gonna do. Even after Joel and I made it clear that insurance is not an issue, it was brought up. Some people said some really strange things. One person said that they did not support any parks or park activities that did not bring in money for the village. Well there goes alot of our parks. Residents whom had spoken to me personally said that I told them that around 40-60 kids would use the park. I did say that. I said that at least 40-60 kids would use the park avidly (at least twice a week). And I am seeing that the number is more than that. There are likely 200-300 maybe more kids who skate, and will use the park a few times in its first year, but once there is a park, more kids will skate, and more kids will skate avidly. So almost immediately that number increases dramaticlly in size. I call on the park board to conduct a census of the village. To determine how many people in wilmette skateboard, and how many skate avidly. Because even my numbers of participants are just estimates and guesses. If you weren't at the meeting, try to come to other meetings, because we need your help. If you were at the meeting, continue to come, because we need you as well. Also, write letters to the Wilmette Life.

W.A.I.T. A Minute

2005-06-25T15:48:00.000-05:00

WAIT (Wilmette's Angry Ill-Informed Taxpayers) is the new anti-inclusive recreation organization that we need to fight! They have been passing out flyers around Wilmette. These flyers are full of lies. For example "it was announced that the board is planning to put a skateboard park in Wilmette" Now that would be nice, but they havent done that yet. I think the board has made it very clear that this is a consideration not something that they will do for sure. If they were guarranteed to do it, we wouldnt still be fighting. These guys are ill-informed. We need to meet them head on. Monday, June 27th, at 7:00pm at the village hall! the first of two public hearings on the skatepark. Also, write letters to the wilmette life. we have done it, and so have they, but we cannot let their letters drown out ours.

Meeting On Monday

2005-06-12T13:48:00.000-05:00

This Monday, June 13, there will be a park board meeting at the village hall. It will start at 7:30pm.

May 9th opposition

2005-05-10T10:29:00.000-05:00

We only had 6 supportors at the May 9th meeting, but that was my fault. I did not get the word out. People are beginning to oppose the park. A lot of people came up and spoke against it. We need more people at meetings, and we need to find more adults willing to speak in favor of the park. A motion was approved to have public hearings on the skatepark, but dates are not yet set. Shirts are in, $5 for a white shirt, and $7.50 for a blue one. Email me to get one.

link to the article

2005-04-24T11:15:00.000-05:00

here is a link to the article in the wilmette life about us. Click Here

wilmette life, once again

2005-04-21T16:48:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody, check out this week's wilmette life. We are in two articles, one covering the last meeting, and one editorial about youth getting involved in politics. This is great for us. BTW we are hoping to have a meeting soon outside of the normal park board meetings, this is to discuss between the skaters what we want. We can decide on a material, if we like 3D design, if how will will go forward from here, as well as other things. No date is yet set for this

Wonderful News

2005-04-18T19:45:00.000-05:00

I have just returned from the april 18th meeting. We have some great news. The location to be recomended to the Park Board on May 9th is the Community Play Fields near WJHS. This is a great leap forward for our cause. We are hoping to have at least one public hearing this summer. We had over 30 people at the meeting who were there to support the skatepark. Thanks everyone. Look in the Wilmette Life this week or next, for an article on us. I will post a link to the article to be when I get one. I hope we can have a similar turnout at the May 9th meeting where the recomendation of the parks and rec committee for the location of the skatepark will be presented to the entire park board. Then the process of debate really begins and we will need each and every person to help support our cause.

Urgent: New Location

2005-04-17T15:46:00.000-05:00

The park board has moved the meeting from the Village Hall to the Community Rec. Center.

april 18th meeting

2005-04-07T19:10:00.000-05:00

Monday April 18th at 6:15pm is the most important parks and recreation committee meeting to date. We need everyone there. Our goal is 20 people. We have been getting alot of people talking, and we are hoping that within the next few meetings, the wilmette life will do something on us. SO SHOW UP! sorry, but we really need everyone who can come to come. If you need a ride, email us at skatewilmette(at)gmail.com oviously put in the @ symbol, but i dont want people spamming the email adress, so i wont type it for them to steal. We have a network of people set up who can give rides.

Election Results

2005-04-06T17:32:00.000-05:00

Ok well we have some great news. According to preliminary election results, both Brault and Marcus were elected to the park board. Diana Cohen was also reelected, and although we do not believe she has come out supporting the skate park yet, she has said that she wants to continue researching. Also, Brault seems to be in favor of a skatepark at mallinckrodt. That's good. Did you know that we spent $20 million to by that land, and the building was only sold for about $3 million. We need to put something there. We have stickers, but they were misprinted. Sorry. New stickers are being made. BTW, sorry about the spam comments. Just some random guy. Congratulations to Jim Brault, Richard Marcus, and Diana Cohen on their successful campaigns.

Wilmette Life + Reprints

2005-03-26T19:51:00.000-06:00

I am told, although i am out of town and have not had the chance to see this myself, that one of our members wrote a letter to the wilmette life, which was published in the latest edition. This could be very helpfull. Also, we are tinkering with the idea of t-shirt reprints for the many people who could not get their hands on the first 15. We need to find a company to do it though. Does anyone know any custom shirt places?

Meeting Update

2005-03-17T07:19:00.000-06:00

The last meeting this monday was a success, 2 people spoke, and we discussed helmet saftey issues. The next meeting is this tuesday at 6:15pm, but we are not sure if we will show up yet.

Skate Wilmette: Its Better Than A Real Sport

2005-03-07T16:42:00.000-06:00

Skate Wilmette: Its Better Than A Real Sport is our new slogan. Shirts should be done by friday. bring in your money friday and monday if u ordered one from us.

march 14th

2005-03-03T18:53:00.000-06:00

march 14th at 7:30pm. village hall. this is the next meeting. also. shirts have been ordered, but we could only get 15, if you were not on the list, sorry, we will make sure that you get stickers when we get them.

progress

2005-02-17T20:06:00.000-06:00

ok team. we have posters. check them out at our photobucket. print them out. pass them out. put them on the outside of your locker. whatever! ok good news. we have someone who is willing to fund t-shirts that will say "Skate Wilmette: WE NEED A SLOGAN" what do u think our slogan should be. come up with one and email it to skatewilmette@gmail.com or comment on this post. also, graham went to the park board meeting in febuary, and the consultant for the village should give his findings on april 19th. he will tell the village the pros and cons of each park location. then we can start making real progress. also, lets remember that on april 5th that there is a park board election. we need to reelect marcus. we also need to elect jim brault. carlson is also in favor of a park, but most important and marcus and brault.

Meeting at Village Hall

2005-01-18T20:23:00.000-06:00

Meeting on Monday at Village Hall. Moderate success. We had lots of people. Thanks guys. Especially Tyler for getting all those new kids to come. Well here is what it looks like for those of you who couldn't come. We really can't do anything other than write to the paper until the consultant comes back to the village with some answers. Update on Howard Park: This would require tearing down the warming house (but it would be rebuilt) and it would still be very narrow. BTW the Glenview Park by ABT is around 12,000 square feet. Vattmann, Gilson and maybe Hibbard are still good options. I really don't think that the village will agree with Maple or West. Don't worry, we will still push mallinckrodt, but it does not look likely, even with all of that park space, they just don't want to make the people who might move into the condos there mad. Well there goes the aesthetically pleasing, large, and creatatively designed park.

Glenview Skatepark Pictures

2005-01-16T19:05:00.000-06:00

That's right. Glenview has a skatepark. Why not Wilmette? The Glenview skatepark is a great model for Wilmette. It has beginner, intermediate, and advanced features in a good sized space.

Glenview even has a little hut to sit and relax since skating is so tiring. Unfortunately, they do not allow BMX bikes, and bikers are often kicked out. The Glenview skatepark also lacks a close water fountain or vending machine. Skating is tiring, and in Wilmette, hopefully, a water fountain is found closer to the park.

Hibbard Park Pictures

2005-01-16T18:32:00.000-06:00

Hibbard Park currently has a baseball diamond, jungle gym, and tennis courts, but it has lots of room left over. There is plenty of room at Hibbard Park for a skatepark on the side opposite the Rec Center. This park could be plenty big, but many soccer teams practice on the field. Depending on the size of the skatepark, it could be hard to accommodate both, and a sidewalk might need to be made from the rec center parking lot to the skatepark. This sidewalk would have to be skater friendly, and allway skating on it.

Another option at Hibbard Park, is to take down the tennis courts and build a skate park there. There are many other tennis courts in Wilmette for tennis players to use.
This would not be my top choice for the location of the skatepark.

Avoca Park

2005-01-16T17:47:00.000-06:00

Avoca Park is inadequate for a skatepark. It is full of soccer fields, and a basketball court, so there is no room left. And, the park is used at recess by students at Marie Murphy School. This means that students might enter the park at recess and misuse the park features, which could cause harm to the features as well as the students.
Avoca Park can not be used as a skatepark.

West Park Pictures

2005-01-16T17:42:00.001-06:00

West Park has a skating rink, jungle gym, baseball diamond, and garden, but it still has a large area were a skatepark could work well.

The park could be very big, because the only nearby constrant would be the baseball diamond. The cons to this area, are that a. the park just isn't very nice looking, and b. the park is hard to get to and not very central to Wilmette.

Thornwood Park Pictures

2005-01-16T17:09:00.000-06:00



This is Thornwood Park. It has two baseball fields, tennis courts, and a jungle gym. There would be very little room for a skatepark. I DO NOT recommend this as a place for a skatepark.



This is the North-West corner of Thornwood Park. There is some area that could be potentially used for a skatepark here, but it is not recommended. Most of the East side of the park is empty, and it is the only site on Thornwood park where a park could be built, but it is right up against houses.



A park at Thornwood could be very long, but not necessarily too wide as to stay away from the baseball fields.

Mallinckrodt Pictures

2005-01-16T15:52:00.000-06:00



this is the South-East corner of Mallinckrodt. It is not close to many houses. A great spot for the skate park.



Another view of the South-East corner of

Mallinckrodt.



It would be possible in

Mallinckrodt to have at the edge of the unused parking lot, and then have paths winding through the trees that could lead to smaller features like a miniramp. This would look great and really give a natural and tranquil setting for the skatepark.

arguments for a skate park

2005-01-16T15:32:00.000-06:00

Reasons to put a skateboard park in Wilmette (specifically Mallinckrodt)

Mallinckrodt has lots of land now available for use and a skate park will not take up anywhere near the whole space.
Currently, skaters in Wilmette either skate in the streets, or in the back of schools where parts of the buildings can be danged, and BMX biking is limited to the bikers yard.
Skate Stoppers are now being put in at new construction sites in Wilmette which limit skate-able areas.
A skate park would encourage the sports of skateboarding, inline skating, and BMX biking.
Skate parks are the #1 choice for recreation of teenagers when polled by Parks & Recreation departments according to the skate park association of the United States of America.
Cities and municipalities have an obligation to their communities to provide safe places for their youth to skate. It is an investment in their future.
This money can be raised by the skaters beforehand though various means if it is necessary, as well as after construction by charging for the use of the park during certain parts of the day.
Studies show that skateboarders are not likely to do drugs because of the commitment skateboarding requires.
The average price of skate parks is only $25,000 and is about 10,000 square feet.
Companies like Coke and Pepsi have been known to give money to fund skate parks in exchange for having their vending machines at the park.
Many teens to not like competitive sports like football or basketball, and mostly non-competitive sports like skating are a great way to get those kids out and exercising.
While skating and other similar sports may not be direct team sports, they promote encouragement and give teens a sense of community.
There is a large demand in Wilmette and the surrounding communities for a skate park because currently the closest parks are in Glencoe and Glenview.