New skate park could be coming to South Loop

Daley proposes city’s first indoor place to shred

05/05/2011 5:37 PM

By Ben Meyerson
Editor

10 Comments - Add Your Comment


Sean McKay catches some air while skateboarding at Grant Park's skate plaza. BEN MEYERSON/Staff

The South Loop could be getting another skate park, if plans proposed by Mayor Richard M. Daley at Wednesday’s city council meeting pan out.

Under Daley’s proposal, a city-owned recycling center at 1758 S. Clark St. would be sold to the Chicago Park District for $1 and converted into an indoor park — the first of its kind in the city.

Daley’s goal is to create a 24-hour park — a place where people can come and skate at all hours of the day.

“Some of the skateboarders had told him that after work or after their shift at restaurants, they wanted a place to go and skateboard,” said Lance Lewis, a spokesman for Daley.

On top of giving the land to the park district at bargain-basement prices, the project could get tax increment financing cash, as well, according to the ordinance.

The proposal was sent to committee at Wednesday’s meeting. Jessica Maxey-Faulkner, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Park District, said it was still “very early” in the process, and no blueprints had been drawn up yet.

The South Loop has one skate park already — a skate plaza in Grant Park featuring a few ramps as well as benches and ledges that used to sit in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art.


10 Comments - Add Your Comment



By YEEEE from north chi
Posted: 06/03/2011 0:47 AM

no bmx!! they mess up every opsticle in the park.. this park should be like an indoor plaza, more street tech, and a mini ramp to session that\'ll be cool. but more street stuff!!


By JamesT1984 from Tampa
Posted: 05/24/2011 12:45 PM

Closely listen to an Inception dvd made before the January 8th Tucson shooting, especially during the dialogue, "Do It."


By mar pao from south loop
Posted: 05/16/2011 4:58 PM

would bmx people be allowed????


By Rob from Logan Square
Posted: 05/15/2011 1:49 PM

I would gladly pay your taxes for a year if I didn't have to have these rollerblading posers getting in the way for the rest of my life.


By my taxes from my basement
Posted: 05/15/2011 12:52 PM

yeah keep out the rollerbladers, keep me out, as if i dont pay the taxes for the place to be built. if it were skateboarder exclusive ill show up with a citystar deck and laquer th entire park until every skateboarder complains and leaves. Then ill reveal my carefully concealed pair of thrones and have an enjoyable time.


By Real Cool Guy Skateboarder from The moon
Posted: 05/15/2011 1:23 AM

Gosh that'd be terrible to have rollerbladers there. It's annoying how they know when to drop in and how they get mad at me for leaving my skateboard on the coping. I just want to go to the skatepark, get mad at everything, act tough, complain about a few things and over all not mind my own business. But I'd really like to have this park because I need somewhere to practice my kick flip on flat ground.


By Rob from Logan Square
Posted: 05/13/2011 2:13 PM

Hopefully they keep those lousy rollerbladers out.


By Collin Martin from Loop
Posted: 05/13/2011 2:04 PM

How can I help get involved with this project?! We need a good 24 hour park! Very exciting.


By charlie thompson from hyde park
Posted: 05/06/2011 9:48 PM

I think that this is a very good idea especially because now chicago will have a 24- hour place to skate rather than get kicked out of every skate spot possible


By EW from South Loop
Posted: 05/06/2011 10:40 AM

I'm all for a skate park -- encouragement of outdoor activities for kids should be applauded. I am slightly concerned, however, where the recycling bins will move? It is now so convenient and easy for Sloopers to recycle, if it moves far away I'm afraid it will reduce the large number of participants.