Skatepark Phase 1 Installation!

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving holiday and are ready to do some skating at the new skatepark soon. That's right, the skatepark equipment will start being installed at the skatepark the week of December the 9th.

We're really excited about this first phase of the skatepark. You can see in the image to the left what's going to be installed in the first phase.

If we use the skatepark regularly, follow the rules and take care of the equipment, we have a lot of verbal commitment at this point from the city that they will expand the park in the coming years.

So, here's what I'll ask of you: please don't skate the equipment until we have the grand opening ceremony. I know that it will be a temptation to want to climb the fence or skate it at night, but please do not do it! Some of the equipment will not be finished, bolted down, etc. and you could seriously injure yourself. Also, you could jeopardize the opening of the park for the rest of us. So please, wait until the grand opening. I'm going to try to get that date for you as soon as the city tells me (hopefully before Christmas). Do feel free to come out during the installation week and watch (from outside the fence) and tell the ARC/City folks how pumped you are about the skatepark. That will make their day.

Thanks for your help and cooperation,

Frank

Skatepark Vendor Selected

Just wanted you to know that the City has selected American Ramp Company (ARC) to build the skatepark. We looked at the plans from about 9 vendors and solicited input from area skaters and ARC was our top recommendation to the City. We'll now be working with ARC and the City to hopefully have the skatepark ready for a Christmas grand opening (brrrr). Thanks everyone for your support and patience. We're almost there!

Skatepark Designs Are In!

Hi everyone,

The City of Crossville has received the proposals and I've been asked to be on the selection committee. I'd like for us to meet at Dairy Queen on Main Street this Sunday at 2pm September 14 to provide input. I'll take your input to the committee as the Skatepark Association.

Look forward to seeing you there and a opening the skatepark by Christmas!

Frank McClung

Skatepark RFP Released Today!

The City of Crossville has released the Request for Proposal for the skatepark (see attachment)! This is a very big step towards a new skatepark and we're all excited to see the proposals that will come in. More updates as the process moves along.
Crossville%20SkateparkRFP%20Final%20080508.pdf

Summer 2008 Skatepark Status Update

I know you're wondering "Are we ever going to get a skatepark?". The answer is YES! It's just taking the city a little longer than we would hope. I met with the city yesterday for about 2 hours to help them get the request for proposal ready to send to the ramp vendors next week. Once it goes out to the vendors, they'll have a certain period of time to respond (45 days I think) and then we'll start reviewing the proposals with the city. Sooo, long story short, looks like the park will be ready to skate around December 2008. Nice holiday present huh?

You've been so patient up to this point, waiting several years for a skatepark, and we're almost there. Please hang in there. And if you can, help us keep the skate pad area clean by picking up trash and such if you skate that area.

Also, I have a special request. One of our skaters who helped us in the early days had a baby that passed away due to premature birth. If anyone is interested in donating to help her purchase a headstone for the child, please email me or send the donation to Frank McClung, 23 Point Road, Crossville TN 38571 and I'll make sure she gets it.

That's about all on my end. Look for a skatepark meeting notice before school starts in August.

Approved! And other News

Well, all that hard work finally paid off last night at the city council meeting. The Council voted unanimously to put out a request for proposal for the ramps in the skatepark to the tune of $75,000. That's a lot of car washes! And its up from the initial $50,000 initially proposed. Needless to say, we're very happy. This will be a great start to the skatepark. Please thank Steve Hill at Parks and Rec, Councilmember Kerley & Duer, and Mayor Graham for their continued support.

What's up next? The Council decided to put out a request for proposal rather than use an existing, in place contract to find a skate design company. The good part about this is that we should see more designs and hopefully a better park in the end. The bad part is that the city must advertise the RFP for 45 days. This means we won't have the park finished until the Fall. That's a bummer I know, but I think that the City is going about it the right way and we should get a better park as a result. Will keep you informed as we move through the process.

Also, thanks to everyone who came out for the last demo with Skatewave. It was a huge success. We had about 80 plus skaters show up in every age group and skill level. I know that some of you may have been intimidated by the size of the ramps or the pro skater from CA, but you'll have plenty of time to practice once the new park is open. I've included some pictures below.

Demo Day and Upcoming Demo Day

Hey everyone,

First, a big thanks to everyone who came out for the Arc demo today at the new skatepark in Centennial Park on such short notice. We had a good time evaluating and skating the different ramps from ARC. The ramp company brought along some skatepark plans which we also helped them revise. Thanks again to all the skaters who provided their input. And congrats to Brandal who won the Ollie contest and a new deck.

If you missed today's ramp demo, don't worry. We're having another on Monday, April 28th from 3-5pm at Centennial Park in front of the new skatepark. This will be a different company, Skatewave. Please come and skate/evaluate the ramps. We would like to have as many skaters as possible there as we may get a visit from a City Council member. I'd like to have a good showing. And if there are BMXers (you know who you are Pete) and rollerbladers, we want you there too!!

Also, we have some other exciting news. Crossville has its own skateshop now--Set Apart. They'll open their doors this Friday, April 25th at 3pm. The shop is located on West Ave right across the street from AMPs in the little white shopping plaza. Proudly owned and operated by two local skaters, Brandal and Dudd.

That's enough for now,

See you at the demo on Monday,

Frank McClung
Crossville Skatepark Association