Ribbon cutting ceremony held for Joplin's first skate park

(From the City of Joplin)

Today, City officials and skaters joined together with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and community members for a ribbon cutting event to officially open Joplin’s first skatepark. Located at Ewert Park, 5th Street and School Avenue, the new skatepark facility incorporates elements designed for everyone, including not just skateboarders, also BMX riders and rollerbladers.

The skatepark is designed with four zones allowing multiple users to use the park at the same time and includes elements for all ages and skill levels. Skaters cam enjoy numerous elements, such as a large bowl, quaterpipes, hubba ledges, curved taco, street style course, jumps, stairs, flat ground obstacles, grind rails and boxes. American Ramp Company (ARC), contractor for the park, placed these features on the site based on the drainage of the bowl.

“Joplin has experienced a great deal of interest in getting a skatepark built in our community,” said City Manager Sam Anselm. “We’ve heard from numerous citizens multiple times, and we’re pleased to have this project included in the renewal of the Parks and Stormwater Sales Tax that voters passed in 2011. It was a grass roots effort of skater enthusiasts who got involved in the local government process to get their voices heard, and we’re pleased to open the great skatepark for their use.”

Earlier this year, parents, skaters, BMX riders, and interested citizens attended public meetings to provide their input on what they’d like to have in a skatepark.

Funding for the Joplin Skatepark is provided through the Parks and Stormwater Sales Tax, which voters renewed in the August 2011 election. Cost of the construction was $303,500. Park hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

During the event, ARC also announced a grand opening event with Pro Skater Shawn Hale on Saturday, June 20. Hale will be joined with several other skaters during the skate and BMX event set for 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Joplin Skatepark.

For more information about the new skatepark, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 417-624-6937. To view various elements to be included in the Skatepark go to American Ramp Company’s website at www.americanranmpcompany.com