Ann Arbor skatepark backers form construction endowment

The people trying to make the Ann Arbor Skatepark a reality are getting creative in their attempts to attract funding in these tough economic times.The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee has opened two endowment funds through the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. The first fund will be to help raise money to build the skatepark. The second is for the maintenance, improvements and upgrades of the skatepark once it’s done.That committee plans to raise $800,000 to $1 million through donations and grants to build the skatepark. They hope to raise that money within the next 12-18 months.The facility will be about 30,000 square feet of permanent concrete skatepark at Veterans Memorial Park. It will have a skateplaza and possibly even a full pipe. It will also work with the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission to bring some art into the skatepark as well.For information on the project, contact fundraising chair Jim Reische at jreische@a2skatepark.org or Trevor Staples at (734) 223-9837.Source: Trevor Staples, spokesman for the Ann Arbor SkateparkWriter: Jon Zemke