Advertisement

PdC Skate Park

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

The Children’s Advisory Board of Crawford County recently donated $5,000 towards the final phase of the Prairie du Chien Skate Park. Members of the Children’s Advisory Board shown here are Lisa Trumm, Jane Schaaf, Amy Mitchell (Chair), Lorie Floyd, Bill Miller, Darcy Knapp, Rick Peterson and Karen Sjoberg. (Photos courtesy of Mike Ulrich)

The area in gray represents the new addition to the Prairie du Chien Skate Park.

 

Final push underway for final phase of skate park

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The final phase of the Prairie du Chien Skate Park is in its final push. The Children’s Advisory Board of Crawford County recently gave $5,000 to the project and just $3,000 more is needed.

“We’re getting the word out to solicit more support for the final phase,” said Parks and Recreation Director Mike Ulrich. “We want to get it done and we’ve locked in the contract. The target install date is June 5.”

The American Ramp Company of Joplin, Mo., the same company that installed phase 1, will be doing the work on the final phase, said Ulrich and Skate Park Committee Chair Lorie Floyd, who has spearheaded the project from the get-go in 2005.

Floyd and Ulrich said they are inviting the businesses, organizations and individuals to help reach the goal of $58,934.35 in order to complete the final phase.

The first phase was a 4,399 square-foot complex provided to the community by fund-raising efforts and in-kind donations at a cost of $75,000. This shows the commitment and community’s support of the project, said Ulrich and Floyd. The final phase will bring 3,359 square feet of additional skating surface including eight more thrilling obstacles.

“This addition will make our park one of the largest and most unique in the tri-state area,” Ulrich said. “I don’t know of a bigger or better one.” 

Floyd said that $56,000 has been raised so far for the final phase. This total includes a second generous donation from the George Family Foundation, which has given $25,000 over the years.

“Our goal was three to four years following the completion of phase 1 and we’ve met it,” said Floyd.

“There will be some neat things in the final phase that we don’t already have,” said Ulrich in noting that the addition will feature obstacles such as two quarter pipes, a bank ramp, a banana berm, two bat wings, a skate bench and a grindbox.

A meeting was held in 2005 in the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department meeting room where the idea of a skate park started to take shape. Several prospective skate park users, parents and other interested persons attended the initial meeting. On June 14, 2014, after nine years of dreaming, planning, organizing and fund-raising, the area’s only community skate park was built.

The park is a result of the vision and collaboration of the non-profit Children’s Advisory Board, many dedicated volunteers, parents, and the Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Department. The skate park has been a great success, said Ulrich, in noting that it provides a positive and safe environment for the skateboarders, BMX bikers, and in-line skaters of Prairie du Chien and surrounding communities. Ulrich said area residents have seen the diversity of kids and young adults who use the park and have noticed the older participants aiding the younger ones by giving helpful tips in skateboarding. 

“Last summer, we held our first skateboard competition at the park, attracting many local youth,” said Ulrich. “The usage has been great. We get about 50 to 100 kids a day in the summer. It’s in a great setting near the swimming pool, and we get plenty of people from outside of our area.” The skate park is located at 1004 S. 15th St. near the Wacouta Aquatic Park and Fort Fun.

Floyd said many kids and adults have helped with the skate park over the years. There have been numerous chicken barbeques, concession stands, candy sales, six years of the Mississippi Mud Run and many other fund-raising events.

Floyd and Ulrich are now inviting individuals, organizations and businesses to help with the final push and to partner with he Children’s Advisory Board and the community to reach the goal of completing the skate park in the summer of 2017. Any donation is appreciated but donations of $250 or more will guarantee recognition on signs at the park and via the skate park website.

All donations are tax-deductible and may be sent to: Children’s Advisory Board/PDC Skate Park, 220 North Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821.

If anyone has questions about the skate park organization, fund management, or the project itself, they should contact Skate Park Committee Chair Lorie Floyd at 608-412-2974 or email: ljk.floyd@gmail.com or Parks and Recreation Director Mike Ulrich at 326-7207 or email: mulrich@prairieduchien-wi.org.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet