Skatepark Designer Gets Parks Group OK

At its June 19, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor park advisory commission recommended approval of a contract with Wally Hollyday Skateparks for the Ann Arbor Skatepark at Veterans Memorial Park. The $89,560 contract would cover design and construction oversight of the project. It will now be forwarded to the city council for review, likely at the council’s July 16 meeting.

A selection committee reviewed six responses to a request for proposals (RFP) issued by the city of Ann Arbor in April, and selected two California firms – Wally Hollyday Skateparks and Wormhoudt Inc. – as finalists. Additional review resulted in the choice of Wally Hollyday Skateparks as the recommended designer. Wally Hollyday had already been involved in the project He led design workshops for the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark in 2009 and 2010.

The roughly $1 million project – including an anticipated $100,000 endowment for ongoing maintenance – will be paid for through a combination of funds. Those include private donations – primarily solicited through the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark – as well as a $300,000 state grant, and up to $400,000 in matching funds from the Washtenaw County parks and recreation commission. The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation is acting as fiduciary.

Park planner Amy Kuras is the city’s point person on the project, and briefed commissioners on the project. Trevor Staples, president of Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark, was also on hand to give details on the process and answer questions. Commissioners congratulated Staples, who has helped spearhead this effort for several years.

Construction of the skatepark is expected to start in the spring or summer of 2013.

This brief was filed from the second-floor city council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron, where PAC meets. A more detailed report will follow: [link]