About 270 days from now, Valpo Parks will open the gates to one of their most ambitious, and heartfelt projects to date, the Flounder & Friends Skate Park, which broke ground on Tuesday afternoon.
Designed by world-renowned skate park designer and Valpo native Dug Ketterman, and named in honor of his close friend Ray “Flounder” Wampler, who died in a car crash in 1997, the park will feature an array of elements including rails and other street features, a 7 and a half foot quarter pipe, and a bowl shaped like a flounder – fins and all. The facility is set to occupy the current open field in Fairgrounds Park and will accommodate skateboards, bikes, scooters, and roller skates.
“I want to congratulate those who shared ideas, funds, and inspiration to make this a reality,” said Matt Murphy, Valparaiso mayor. “This skate park has been a dream for many years, and today is particularly inspiring as this project is community driven, steered by Valparaiso’s skate and cycling enthusiasts and designed by Dug Ketterman, a renowned designer and former Valparaiso Viking. This is highly visible and centrally located, adding real street cred to the skating and biking community.”
Almost $900,000 of the project’s over $1 million budget was raised through local contributions. Dozens of families, local businesses, and philanthropic foundations donated to the effort. One group of enthusiastic kids even took on an array of odd jobs such as mowing lawns to help raise additional funds.
“It’s not just creating a place for people to practice their sport and their craft,” said John Seibert, Executive Director of Valpo Parks. “[With these contributions] they’re helping build it, they’re owning it, helping make it happen. That value is something that they’ll carry for the rest of their lives, and is something that they’re connecting with here.”
With Flounder & Friends set to inhabit such a highly visible spot, Seibert hopes that it might help challenge preconceptions of who skaters are.
“There’s often a negative connection with skaters,” Seibert said. “I think that will change with a place like this.”
Outside of the skateboarders and bikers, the local roller derby community members are among those most excited to see the park completed.
“We have a lot of skaters that are so excited because first and foremost, we love skating,” said Ellen Kapitan, a member of the South Shore Roller Derby league. “It’s another place to be on skates, practice our skills, and hang out with our friends. And right at a city park? It doesn’t get any better than that. I appreciate the amount of thought that’s been put into making something so special.”
Flounder & Friends is the second skate park in Valparaiso to share Wampler’s name – and his spirit will continue to shine for years to come as visitors from around the Region travel to be a part of a community facility shaped by his legacy.
“With purpose, this park will welcome people with adaptive needs, with purpose this park will welcome people of all ages and skill levels, and with purpose this park will welcome residents and friends of Valparaiso,” said Kevin Nuppnau, assistant director of Valpo Parks. “We’re not just saying it, we are building it, and it starts today.”To learn more about Valpo Parks, visit www.valpoparks.org.
