Valpo Parks is excited to announce Phase 1 of a new skatepark is underway. Phase 1 will include virtual public engagement, site analysis, skatepark and landscape design plans. These plans will be used to design and build what will serve the next generation of skaters, scooters and bikers, alike.
To assist Valpo Parks throughout Phase 1, Dug Ketterman of DugOut Design Studio in Beaverton, Oregon has been contracted to oversee public engagement and skatepark design elements.
“Valpo Parks was grateful to have Dug [Ketterman] join the project team. Not only does his work speak for itself but Dug has a personal connection to this project and our community that we feel will be on full display throughout the process”, says Kevin Nuppnau, Assistant Director Valpo Parks. “For those people that don’t know, Dug was involved in Valparaiso’s first skatepark, Flounder, which was built in 1997. As a Valparaiso High School student, Ketterman gave speeches at city council, attended bi-weekly meetings with the Valpo Parks Department, coordinated fundraising efforts and assisted in the design aspect alongside the Architects. His story is inspiring, and his experiences have guided him to extraordinary places. As we have seen in many community projects, Dug is another example of leaders giving back.”
With the experience of Flounder Skatepark and having designed, built and managed seven skateparks across the southern US, Ketterman was hired as a designer by California Skateparks. During his tenure at California Skateparks, he built some of the most notable event skateparks and courses for television and film, including 21 X Games Skatepark Courses.
To assist Valpo Parks and DugOut Design in the Phase 1, Abonmarche, with offices located throughout Indiana and Michigan, will assume the role of project engineers.
Abonmarche is a visionary design firm with a strategy centered upon building long-term client relationships. Their approach to every project is molded by years of professional experience and passionate commitment to improving communities through high-value client service. Abonmarche works beside their clients all the way, always in contact, and always mindful of their goals and needs. Instilling confidence and trust are the foundation of our business.
Phase 1 will kick off with an online public survey. The community will be asked to complete the survey to gather data to assist in the design. The survey will be made available on Friday, January 15 and the live link can be found on Valpo Parks Facebook page, website and other social channels. Following the online survey, a virtual public engagement session will be scheduled to allow community members the
opportunity to hear directly from Valpo Parks, DugOut Designs Studio and Abonmarche staff on key project issues. Lastly, renderings of the proposed park will be shared virtually in an effort to receive final comments on the overall layout of the park. Key dates, timelines and project updates will be made available for viewing on the Valpo Parks website.
“We’re extremely excited at the progress made thus far. In July, Valpo Parks assembled a task force to keep the momentum, and it paid off. In January, we were fortunate to have Dug and the team at Abonmarche come onboard as strategic partners as we continue to move forward. Their passion and expertise will undoubtedly yield a result that everyone will be proud of,” Nuppnau explains.
For more information and to learn about ways in which you can support the project, please visit Valpo Parks website at www.ValpoParks.Org.
