Our mission: To build a free, public, concrete skatepark as a permanent resource for residents in the Ann Arbor area. The skatepark will be designed and built by an experienced skatepark contractor, and include local skaters in the design process.
Two consultants chosen to interview for skatepark design project
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 17, 2012 — The Ann Arbor Skatepark is moving closer to becoming a reality. City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Services, Friends of Ann Arbor Skatepark, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation, and a Park Advisory Commission member reviewed six proposals from consultants in the United States and Canada to design a skatepark in Veterans Memorial Park, 2150 Jackson Ave.
The committee met on Monday, May 14 and chose two consultants to interview: Wormhoudt Inc. and Wally Holiday Skateparks. Both companies are based in California and each have over 30 years of experience designing and constructing skateparks. The firms have reputations among skateboarders as being two of the best designers in the industry.
Interviews are being scheduled, after which a recommendation will be made as to which firm will be awarded the design and construction oversight of the skatepark project. After the contract is awarded, public workshops will be held to obtain design feedback from the community. Construction is tentatively scheduled for spring/summer of 2013.
The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Street Team announces 2nd Annual Bake Sale for the Ann Arbor Skatepark
Ann Arbor- The Ann Arbor Skatepark Street Team has announced its second annual bake sale for the Ann Arbor Skatepark. The sale is scheduled for Saturday, April 21 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Last year the Street Team’s sale raised $1,000 for the Ann Arbor Skatepark in just 3 hours. This year, their goal is $2,000. Every dollar raised from the sale helps pay for the design, construction, and future maintenance of the Ann Arbor Skatepark.
Many individuals, families, and businesses will help the Street Team meet their fundraising goal for the day. Arbor Brewing Company has generously offered up their “Tap Room” for the midday bake sale. Individuals and businesses can help by donating treats to the sale, stopping by and buying some treats, or both. There will also be Skatepark merchandise available at the bake sale. If you or your business would like to make food or financial contributions to the bake sale, contact Crystle Partington at crystle@a2skatepark.org.
Here are the details:
2nd Annual Street Team Bake Sale
Saturday, April 21 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Arbor Brewing Company’s Tap Room
114 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
The Ann Arbor Skatepark Street Team is a group of energized, engaged youth who want to help make positive change in our community. They work hard to help the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark meet the goal of raising $1,000,000 to design, build, and maintain the best skatepark in the midwest.
Any youth who are interested in joining the Street Team should contact Crystle Partington at crystle@a2skatepark.org.
Everyone's been asking anybody that has anything remotely to do with the skatepark what's happening, and more importantly... WHEN?! Next week we'll be publishing a more detailed update, but here's a quickie report...
Things are starting to come together for the design and construction of the Ann Arbor Skatepark. Our funding is at a level that allows us to move forward with design/construction while continuing the push to complete our fundraising goals. There is a LOT to do. Between now and construction there are months-long processes that absolutely have to be taken on. This is going to be painful for most (if not all) of our supporters to hear, but our best estimate for being ready to break ground is some time in September. Problem is, our skatepark will take about 4 months to build. This leaves us with no option but to plan for construction to start in early spring next year, 2013.
I assure you there is no way to speed up the process quicker than the way we're doing it. THERE IS NO ONE WHO WANTS THIS SKATEPARK BUILT MORE THAN I DO! In fact, I don't want it built next spring, I want it built in the spring of 2007.
Next week, in collaboration with the City of Ann Arbor, and the Washtenaw County Parks Commission, we'll be sending out a press release with more details of the process. We're hoping that the press release will spark news stories, so that everyone in our community will know what's going on with the skatepark.
Thanks for your continued patience. We're working (volunteering) our tails off to make this happen. Remember that we want this thing as bad as you do.
Thank you so much for your support up to this point. It's been a long road. We couldn't have reached this point without YOU.
However, our goal remains. From the beginning, part of our agreement with the City of Ann Arbor has been that not only will be provide funding for design and construction of the skatepark, but to also create an endowment to help pay for maintenance and future improvements to the skatepark.
10% of each gift/donation to the Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund goes into the Ann Arbor Skatepark Endowment. However, the $700,000 we’ve raised through grants can only be used for design and construction of the skatepark, not for the endowment.
IF WE ARE TO BUILD THE ANN ARBOR SKATEPARK, WE NEED TO RAISE AT LEAST $100,000 FOR THE ENDOWMENT!
After the endowment is funded, that leaves about $100,000 more to reach our total fundraising goal of $1,000,000.
We’ve busted our humps to get this far. We’re not quitting now!
Thousands of people in Washtenaw County have helped us get to this point. We are VERY grateful. But, WE STILL NEED YOU! We need you to keep buying stickers, shirts, decks, and keychains. We need you to buy a brick… or two. We need you to encourage others to give. We need you to help us make sure that the skatepark gets built.
Right Now: Go to http://a2skatepark.org/donate
There you can buy a brick, or simply give a donation online. It’s all tax deductible, and it feels real good ;-)
Tomorrow: Go downtown and get a shirt, deck, mug, and/or keychain from Vault of Midnight, Acme Mercantile, or Launch Board shop.
Before January 1: Send a letter to the mayor of Ann Arbor telling him why a skatepark is important to you and yours. Here’s his email address: JHieftje@a2gov.org If you’d like to email the other council members as well, here’s a page with their addresses: http://www.a2gov.org/government/citycouncil/Pages/Home.aspx
During 2012: Attend city council and Park Advisory Commission meetings. Speak up on how important the skatepark is to you. Tell everyone you know that this is important. We need everyone focused on what will prove to be the last leg of this jouney!
With your help, we’ll get this thing built. It’s going to be awesome, and you’ll be able take pride knowing that you helped make our community a better place.
Thank you!
Trevor Staples
President
Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark
Main Street Area Association businesses have partnered with 12 local non profits to help support local charities and to encourage shopping local this holiday season.
On Wednesday, December 21, a portion of sales from Main Street Area Association members will go to help build the Ann Arbor Skatepark! Please support the cause by shopping on Main Street on the 21st!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark is pleased to announce the award of a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund of $300,000.
This amount, combined with over $100,000 in donations raised from private contributors, qualifies the effort for matching funds of $400,000 promised from the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the construction of a permanent skate park amenity at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
The effort faced a January 1, 2012 deadline for both the County matching funds and the donation of the land for the facility by the City of Ann Arbor. Having met the requirements for both commitments the project is now assured of being constructed.
According to Project Liaison Scott Rosencrans: “We are truly grateful to our donors and government partners for making this project a reality. This is a great day for the residents of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County who will receive a first class recreational amenity thanks to a community-wide collaboration that has touched all levels of participation. The effort demonstrates that we can do great things when we all work together.”
Own a piece of skateboarding history... FOR A BUCK! From December 1st to December 21st we're raffling off the "stacked double inverts" issue of The Skateboard Mag signed by Tony Hawk and Andy MacDonald. Every dollar raised goes to the Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.
Submitted by Some Skater on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 20:28
Skate Park Effort Raises $18,000 at Evening of Events at Sava
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2011: The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark received $18,000 in donations during a fundraiser that included a full evening of events held at Sava's Restaurant Saturday night. The evening included an invitation-only cocktail reception and formal dinner along with an “after-glow” dance party that was open to the public.
According to Project Liaison Scott Rosencrans: “A group of people who understand that teens need a way to be active, safe, creative and expressive pulled out their checkbooks and collectively brought that possibility closer to being a reality.”
The evening featured keynote speakers and Ann Arbor Natives, Neda Ulaby, Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment Reporter at National Public Radio, and WEMU On-Air Personality Michael Jewett. Ms. Ulaby took time out from her busy career to fly home for the purpose of supporting this project. Mr. Jewett also had to squeeze the event in to his busy career during a time when his professional responsibilities are acute. Together they made the evening interesting, informative, and fun for the attendees.
Approximately forty donors attended the $150 dollar per plate event. The Master of ceremonies was skate park effort founding board member Trevor Staples who was joined in speaking duties by fellow Board Member, 13-year-old Sam Saalberg. Mr. Saalberg serves on the Board as a representative of the “Street Team” a youth volunteer corps supporting the Skate Park Effort.
Earlier in the day the Street Team sold cider and donuts in front of Acme Mercantile on Liberty Street for two hours in the cold wind and raised an additional $150 for the project.
The group was able to raise additional funds at the Sava's event through skate park merchandise sales, supplemental donations, and a spontaneous auction for Mr. Staples’ one-of-a-kind A2 Skate Park necktie. After a spirited bidding process the tie went for $135 to ardent supporters Linh and Dug Song who recently wrote a check for $25,000 for the project. Mrs. Song commented that it was the best opportunity to get her famous entrepreneur husband to wear a tie at the formal events he attends as a part of his business duties. It was Mr. Song and Mr. Staples who originally developed this effort as a pubic project.
Special recognition for the success of the event goes to Sava Lelcaj, proprietor of Sava’s Restaurant. A long time supporter of the project, Sava has made significant personal cash contributions to the effort. At this event she donated the use of her successful business establishment, provided a gourmet three-course meal and wine at cost, and added a substantial percentage of all bar proceeds from the evening as an additional contribution. While she served this group, she met the needs of the general public who came to her door and an afterglow party from a Hill Auditorium performance.
According to Rosencrans: “We appreciate Sava’s leadership in demonstrating how local businesses can support a public community improvement project. She has been creative, proactive, and a true pleasure to work with. We are continually amazed at her ability to do it all for the community while providing a fabulous dining experience for her customers and running a successful business. It helps that she has an incredible support staff that is both efficient and responsive. They are all a pleasure to spend time with. We can’t thank them enough.”
The amount raised at this event marks a significant milestone where the organization is financially able to release a Request For Proposals, in coordination with their partners at the City of Ann Arbor, for the design and construction supervision of a permanent skate park amenity at Veteran’s Memorial Park. An RFP committee comprised of FOTAAS members, Washtenaw County Park Commission personnel, Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission members, and Ann Arbor Parks Staff will now be constituted for that purpose. Details will follow as those events proceed.
Celebrate the fall season and support the A2skatepark effort! The Street Team will be selling doughnuts, hot cider, and all the Ann Arbor Skatepark merchandise you can stomach on October 15, at Acme Mercantile (111 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor) from noon to 2:00pm. All proceeds benefit the Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. For more information on the Street Team, including how to join, contact crystle at a2skatepark dot org
Note: This special fundraiser is limited to the first 100 people who RSVP.
Please join us for a dinner and cocktails with NPR Arts and Entertainment reporter (and Community High School Graduate!) Neda Ulaby, with WEMU personality (and 5th generation Ann Arborite!), Michael Jewett.
Saturday, October 15th
Sava's Restaurant: 216 S. State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
6:00PM- Exclusive private cocktail party with Neda and Michael
7:00PM- Magnificent 3-course meal prepared by chef Sava Lelcaj
10:30PM- Afterglow dance party
Cash Bar Available
