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Houghton, Michigan—A project aimed at bringing an outdoor skatepark to the City of Houghton has gained traction with a brand new website, an endowment through the Keweenaw Community Foundation, and a fundraiser scheduled for March 12th.
A group of local community leaders formed in mid-late 2015 with the common goal of helping construct a public concrete skatepark in Houghton. The group is formed of volunteers working in coordination with the city, local businesses, and organizations in the interest of providing a professionally-built, free-to-use, and universally appreciated asset to the community for decades to come.
According to the 2010 U.S. census, skateboarding has over 8 million participants, outranking hockey, skiing, and in kids aged 6-17, even little league baseball. Despite these massive numbers, there is no sanctioned place to skate in Houghton or neighboring Hancock, leaving local skaters with few if any options to pursue the recreational activity they love.
Ray Sharp of Western U.P. Health said, “This is a great way for kids to get healthy physical activity. We want to have a state of the art facility so that people have a publicly-sponsored area where they can go and do what they love to do.”
In its 2014 update to its Master Plan, the City of Houghton identified a skate park as a targeted project to be constructed by 2018. The skatepark also is recognized in the City’s Recreation Plan. The City of Houghton has agreed to donate a suitable parcel of land, and the group is in discussions with City Manager Eric Waara, P.E., on selecting the most appropriate space possible. There are a few locations under consideration. The primary emphasis in selecting a location is that it’s easily accessible near parks, local businesses, and amenities.
The group’s plan is to build a phase-centric park, with the first phase covering approximately 3200 square feet and costing $125,000. Second–and potentially third–phase additions will be smaller and cost less.
The group will hold its first fundraising event on March 12th. The event will be a photo and video retrospective of Level 2 Skatepark, featuring live music and photos for sale, held in the former Level 2 location in the ballroom at The Dee Stadium. Doors will open to individuals of all ages at 7:00 PM with an entry cost of $3. There will be door prizes from Quincy Woodwrights and the Rhythm Bike & Board Co. All photos will be printed by Industrial Graphics.
Individuals looking to donate to the project can also contribute to an endowment that has been started with the Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF). Donations can be made online at www.keweenawgives.org.
Jim Vivian, Executive Director of KCF, said, “This is a great example of a project that brings a community together to help encourage recreational activities that improve our community’s quality of life. This skatepark will promote outdoor activities that help reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and promote physical fitness, which will have a positive impact on the health of our community.”
For more information on the Houghton, MI Skatepark project, please contact houghtonmiskatepark@gmail.com or visit its website at www.houghtonmiskatepark.org.
Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, Keweenaw Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. For more information on Keweenaw Community Foundation and how to give, visit its website at www.keweenawgives.org.
