Giving thanks for the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Skatepark at Central Park
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reflecting on how fortunate we are to have such an amazing park system here in Madison. Millions of visits each year by thousands of individuals made possible by the work of dedicated and professional staff, elected officials, and park commissioners. Madison Parks provides countless opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and making memories in our community. We provide a wide array of spaces and activities, but until this year we did not have a place to skateboard in our park system. Today, I am especially proud and thankful for the work done by numerous organizations and countless individuals to make Madison's first public skatepark a reality.
After over 14 years of discussions, public meetings and fundraising the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Skatepark at Central Park opened in September 2015. The Madison Skatepark Fund, a volunteer group of skaters was loosely formed over a decade ago and set forth the goal to advocating and fundraising for a skatepark. Through this long process, the Madison Skatepark Fund continued to focus on the goal of providing legitimacy for the many skaters in Madison. I am very proud of their sustained engagement on this issue, as without their collective will to succeed I am not confident we would have this wonderful new addition to our park system.
I am also very thankful for the support of the donors and supporters of this project. The skatepark is closed for the season, but I encourage you to drop by next spring to see how amazing it is when we (the collective) get it right. This is an amenity to be truly proud of and it is one of the many things Madison Parks is thankful for in 2015.
You can learn more about the history of the skatepark by watching this excellent, award winning, mini-documentary produced by some local Madison Media Institute students.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend! Get Out & About!
Sincerely,
Eric M. Knepp
Madison Parks Superintendent