Article featured in the New Castle Courier Times, January 22, 2003.

Name chosen for skate park; location still not decided

Even in the skateboarding world of challenging twists, jumps and turns, sometimes simple is best.

So it was Tuesday night as kids and adults gathered at New Castle Middle School to vote on names for a skate park that is still just a dream. A feasibility committee continues to work on deciding a location for the park.

Eighteen people scoured the list of 21 names submitted for the park. Some names were confusing and some names had already been used by other parks. When it came right down to it the most popular name was one of the simplest — The New Castle Skate Park.

When asked why the kids liked that name they said, "That's just what we would call it anyway." And when you hear them talk you hear them talk about the Connersville Park, the Richmond Park, and — with a glow in their eyes — the Louisville Park.

Most stayed after the initial meeting to look at possible designs with Fred Dubinger, who along with Troy Clouse is heading the design committee. They have spent their holidays visiting nearby skate parks and touring the Web sites on the Internet.

When Dubinger introduced himself, the kids asked, "Will you ride on this park?" And Dubinger replied with a big yes. So the kids and Dubinger put their heads together and talked ramps, grinders, pyramids and jump boxes.

"The challenge" Dubinger said, "is making a park that works for everyone — the bikers, the boarders and the in-line skaters. Something for those who are experienced and something for those who are just starting."

Another issue is cost. Some of the best parks are built of concrete with more free-flowing lines. Concrete also presents fewer maintenance issues.

"We want a park that will last, but concrete can cost up to twice as much as a wood park," said Beckey Vitatoe, chairman of the fund-raising committee. "We'll have to see what we can do."

Pam Mihankhah, organizer of the project for Healthy Communities encouraged the kids to get involved, to show leadership in bringing a skate park to New Castle.

"Our next project is a logo contest," Mihankhah said. "Our skate park needs a design that we can put on T-shirts and flyers. Something like Healthy Communities had for the FUN playground and the Trees for 2000."

Anyone who wants to submit a logo for the skate park can send their idea to Healthy Communities, P.O. Box 921, New Castle, IN. If you have any questions or want to volunteer to help with the skate park project contact skatepark@hchcin.org.