Evansville is no stranger to skateparks, in fact Lamasco Skate Park has been around since I can remember. When I was in high school, I remember once I got my license I was constantly driving my brother and his friends around to different local skateparks so they could skate in a safe area free from traffic.  Unfortunately over a decade later Lamasco Skate Park isn't quite what it used to be, and needs a lot of repairs.  In comes the Evansville Parks and Recreation along with some passionate community members, and they're working on bringing a new concrete skatepark to Evansville, Sunset Skatepark. You can help fund Sunset Skatepark by donating to their GoFundMe.

Here's what the Sunset Skatepark GoFundMe says about the project, and what it will do for the community:

Evansville, Indiana has a rich, vibrant and diverse skate and biking community that spans many age, demographic and social backgrounds. Skating and biking have provided many in the community with life-long friendships and this new skatepark will be a safe gathering space to get together, be active and create an even larger community with younger generations.

We NEED, and will give to give the youth of Evansville and Southwest Indiana, a FREE activity for our youth that reduces illicit behavior, encourages a healthy lifestyle, camaraderie, a strong sense of community pride, mental health benefits, and a safe, active, accessible space for all!

Sunset Skatepark will be the only concrete skatepark in an 82-mile radius; the closest is Hopkinsville, KY. Evansville lags behind other Hoosier cities like New Albany, Hammond, Terre Haute, Seymour, Lafayette, Kokomo, Richmond that already have concrete skateparks. SSP will replace a metal structure skatepark built in 2001 along the Greenway Trail in Lamasco Park. This skatepark met its lifespan within ten years. With metal connectors broken, shaky structural supports, and amateur repair attempts, the site is now all but closed, stripping our skating community of a safe, appropriate space to skate and build community.

The Sunset Skatepark fills voids identified in the Evansville Downtown Master Plan and the Evansville Parks Master Plan: both documents name the need for skill-based recreation to build community and socialization, while also encouraging new progressive activities that are attractive to community newcomers. Sunset Skatepark is an essential public-private tool in response to regional economic development goals and strategic enhancements for the city’s historic, entertainment and diverse residential core.

The project will benefit underserved Evansville area youth and young adult skaters (experienced and aspiring), especially those residing in Evansville’s federally-designated Promise Zone (PZ). Promise Zones are high poverty areas in which local and federal government partners work to leverage private investment to improve economic activity, public health, and educational opportunities, and to reduce violent crime.

You can read more about Sunset Skatepark's plans, and more ways you can help on their GoFundMe page by clicking here.  You can also learn more in the YouTube video below.  Be sure to follow along on the Sunset Skatepark Facebook page to stay up to date with the project and where they're at!

 

 

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