It might be a little gloomy out and threatening rain, but Sunset Skatepark is alive with activity on opening day, Saturday December 16.
Skateboarders and BMX riders of many ages are out testing the new features and just hanging out.
“This still doesn't feel real,” said Steve Ramirez of Evansville. “Because this has been years in the making. To be honest … the feeling I'm feeling right now is ‘enjoyment’ and ‘blessed.’ Because this is the largest skatepark in Indiana now. And it’s right in our backyard.”
Steve Ramirez of Evansville. (Tim Jagielo/WNIN Video Still)
The idea for the skatepark is about 15 years old, according to Community Advocate Heather Vaught.
The park is 23,000 square feet, right on the Ohio River and built for a variety of skill levels, including a rail for grinding and a manual pad long with several bowls, ramps and the “portal” for full inversions.
Noah Townsend of Evansville said it’s been difficult to find safe legal places to skate, often resorting to spots he finds a little unsafe.
“On the west side of Evansville, particularly (there are) a lot of drugs, you know, a lot of just negative influences on the community, a lot of people struggling a lot of people in poverty.
And having this so close and just being in the center of everything. It brings a lot of people from all different sides of town together, I believe, and even people out of state. There's people who came to be at this park from like Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky; it's a park that people envy. It really is, and we could not be more grateful.”
Cameron Craddock said he’d be chased from private property, and told to go "skate at a legit park" — which wasn’t actually possible until now. “That's a valid criticism. "You can say that to me now,” he said.
Shotcrete is an industrial method of applying concrete via pressurized hose. It's often used for large buildings and swimming pools. (Tim Jagielo/WNIN Video Still)
In late August the park was just hills of dirt and grass. Crews cut wood into forms and moved dirt around to form the base of the structures, then the steel "skeleton" is built.
The most dramatic part of construction is the shotcrete phase.
“It's like pressurized concrete shooting,” said pump operator Tyler Shirek. “It's better for consolidation. It's like what most guys use in swimming pools or when they're doing like large scale buildings.”
This intense phase required something close to triple the prior staffing. Concrete is poured into a hopper, where it’s forced into the system of tubes that exit with a loud whooshing sound.
Company co-owner Bart Smith helps smooth and contain the concrete as it’s sprayed. Rain or shine, the team worked sometimes under tents as the sky offered rain or intense sun.
After the concrete is filled there’s finishing work and finally signage, lighting and grass. This was just completed last week.
Hundreds attended opening day at Sunset Skatepark. (Tim Jagielo/WNIN News)
Smith said it’s a little bittersweet to do the work and then move on. “Kind of sad to have to leave, you know, but it's cool to see it done and open to the people.”
They’ll next be moving onto a skate park in Tennessee.
“I think it gives them an outlet for sure to express themselves to just be them,” said Ashley Ford of Crothersville. “They all have a different skate style. I don't really see any two skaters who skate.”
Ford is from Evansville, but lives in Crothersville. She brought her nine children to the park — six are already on skateboards.
“Being from here and watching things slowly disappear from Evansville. It's nice to see something coming back.”
“I hope people just have fun,” said Shirek, who was able to build a skatepark in his home town of Kokomo. “And I hope this is like a place where people can make new friends, and their community can be built and that can bring themselves up together.
And kids can get into skating in a safe place. That's the thing … it's a safe place for someone to come and learn and do their thing. Or for more advanced people to come and get crazy. It's, you know, there's all across the board. It's like a place for fun.”
The park is open daily from dawn to 11 PM.
Hundreds attended opening day at Sunset Skatepark. (Tim Jagielo/WNIN News)Hundreds attended opening day at Sunset Skatepark. (Tim Jagielo/WNIN News)
