‘Gnarly’ new skate park draws rave reviews
By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com June 21, 2011 6:24PM
Skateboarders ride the ramps at the brand new Phillips Park Skatepark on Tuesday, which was National Skateboarding Day. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 4, 2011 12:37AM
AURORA — Jason Benter thinks the new skate park is gnarly.
The 20-year-old Auroran, who lives right down the block, said the opening of the Phillips Park Skate Park has been on his radar for about a year now, and Tuesday afternoon he finally got his chance to ride his skateboard down the hand rail.
Aurora city officials debuted the new skate park at the near East Side Phillips Park Tuesday afternoon, and trumpeted the near-completion of the park’s west end development.
Tuesday was National Skateboarding Day, and about 100 skateboarders and BMX bikers came out to ride at the skate park’s opening.
“It’s the best park around here,” Benter said, kicking back in the shade with his board. He said he’s been skating for about 10 years.
In all, about five acres of unused land were developed as part of the park’s improvements, said city spokesman Kevin Stahr.
The $1.3 million in improvements were funded through a $400,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant, which required matching contribution from the city, according to Stahr.
Alderman Stephanie Kifowit, 3rd Ward, donated $235,629 from her ward fund to enhance the skate park. Alderman Juany Garza, 2nd Ward, donated about $900 in ward funds.
“I’ve heard skaters say this is the best skate park in the suburbs,” Stahr said.
Kifowit said the design of the skate park was decided on by area skaters.
“The bottom line is if you’re going to do it, do it right,” she said. “This was 100 percent designed by the kids. This is what they wanted.”
Paulo Almeida and Nicky Fotopoulos, 16 and 15, of Naperville, came over for the skate park’s opening, too.
“The wall is just sick. It reminds me of my favorite skate park in California,” Almeida said.
Jason Baldessari, sales manager of Los Angeles-based Spohn Ranch Skate Parks, the firm which built the Phillips Park facility, said construction started last November and ended in April.
The skate park cost $265,000 to construct, he said.
The city has also installed a new splash pad, boat docks and shoreline restoration, a Mastodon Trail spur addition and a volleyball court expansion as part of the upgrades.
New fencing, lighting and scoreboards were installed at the park’s softball fields, and the field concourse was made accessible for the disabled, Stahr said.
Fitness equipment has been added along the trail around Mastodon Lake.
The overall improvements began last summer and all have been completed except for the final landscaping touches to the dog park, which the city hopes to open in July, according to Stahr.
Mayor Tom Weisner said the improvements mean the park now has something for everyone.
“Phillips Park is really the gem of all our parks,” Weisner said.
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