Ever since I moved to Chicago 10 years ago, there has been talk about a skate park downtown. I always considered it a pipe dream since getting new construction approved by the city of Chicago often takes more than just connections and money. And as a lifelong skateboarder, I know there’s still a good percentage of the public who view skateboarders and BMXers as nothing short of hooligans.
Well, this past Saturday, Christmas came a little early for Chicago’s skateboarders and BMXers. Saturday marked the opening of Chicago’s newest skate park (a month early), and the news media and social media were all abuzz. The skate park came with a price tag of $2.65 million for three acres of prime real estate in Grant Park. Not many major cities would give up this kind of land—right off Michigan Avenue—to build a skate park—but Chicago proved once again that the city’s parks are for all to enjoy.
Designed by Altamanu Architects and built by K.R. Miller Contractors at the site of Chicago’s former Central Station, the design is well thought out and executed. There is enough space for the summer crowds, and numerous lines (routes of travel to do tricks) that can be made. There are plenty of obstacles and transitions to challenge beginners and entertain veterans.
Since this is an outdoor park and Chicago does tend to be covered in a few inches (or feet) of snow during the winter, the official grand opening of the park will take place sometime in the spring. Even though we might not be able to skate this amazingly designed playground for a while, the skaters and BMXers of Chicago will sleep well this winter knowing there is one more place to play once it warms up.
Opening day fun… and cold.
Figuring out the line on the first day.
You might look like this if you skateboard for 30-plus years.
