Indiana's largest skatepark is set to open later this year, in the fall of 2023.

Why a Concrete Skatepark?

Southern Indiana is a step closer to its all-new (and much-needed) concrete skatepark. You may be asking yourself why the Evansville area needs a skatepark and that's a really valid question. The truth is that skateboarding is actually pretty popular with the youth in our community - not just in Evansville but in the entire Southwestern Indiana region and there isn't really anywhere locally that is a dedicated outdoor space for those that enjoy skateboarding.

Why Do We Need One In Evansville?

According to the organizers behind the campaign to make this a reality, the closest concrete skatepark to Evansville is in Owensboro, Kentucky. Being that far away, it's of little benefit to those in the River City who enjoy spending time outdoors on their skateboards. Other cities in Indiana have concrete parks but all Evansville is currently offering is the dilapidated Lamasco skatepark which is more than 20 years old and in a terrible state of disrepair.

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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.

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Photo by Nik on Unsplash
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How It Came to Be

The idea and plans for Sunset Skatepark have come to fruition around 2015 and now over 600 skateboarders, skaters, and BMX bikers spanning multiple generations have come together to brainstorm, fundraise, and otherwise, layout plans to bring this park into reality. Keep scrolling to see the conceptual rendering for the new park.

Sunset Skatepark organizers had hoped to be able to start construction in late 2021 but the project has taken a little longer than initially planned. On December 12, 2022, ground was officially broken for the project. Once completed, Sunset Skatepark will be the largest concrete skatepark in the state of Indiana, covering nearly 2,700 square, according to Downtown Evansville.

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Photo by Pia Kamp on Unsplash
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Where Will Sunset Skatepark Be Located

The nearly 27,000 square feet skatepark will be located between Mickey's Kingdom and the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Sunrise Pump Station along the Downtown Evansville Riverfront. According to Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke during his final State of the City Address, the skatepark is expected to be completed by fall of 2023. Mayor Winnecke says,

The skatepark will feature artwork, jumps for serious skaters, and even a cycle track for skaters and those learning to ride a bike. The design truly has something for everyone. We anticipate completion this fall.

 

Learn more at www.skatesunset.com.

 

State Parks Near the Tri-State You Have to Check Out

As the weather warms up, all I want to do is be outside. We've got several state parks around the Tri-State area, they'd be perfect for a day trip or a camping weekend!

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