The City of Cleveland, in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony on Monday, Sept. 23, to celebrate the City’s newest park amenity — a skate park at Campbell Park. The skate park, which is located adjacent to the splash pad, is the latest addition aimed at enhancing recreational opportunities for Cleveland residents.
The new skate park is built on a 5,000-square-foot concrete slab, equipped with a variety of modular skate features that offer challenges for skaters of all skill levels. For safety, a divider fence has been installed between the skate park and the nearby pavilion, ensuring a safe environment for both skaters and other park visitors.
“This skate park is an example of what can be achieved when the community comes together with a shared vision,” said Cleveland City Manager Scott Swigert. “From the initial Parks and Recreation Board meeting, we budgeted matching funds, and the Skate Park Coalition stepped up to raise additional funds to match the City’s contribution.”
Through careful planning and community support, the City was able to secure high-quality skate park equipment, valued at $250,000, for a fraction of its cost. Swigert explained how a unique opportunity arose when the Skate Park Coalition discovered the equipment being sold online. Originally purchased by a city in the Austin area, the equipment had been put up for sale after that city opted to build a concrete skate park instead.
“Once we inspected the equipment and confirmed it was in good condition, we purchased it for our skate park. This allowed us to get far better quality than we would have been able to buy within our budget,” said Swigert.
With the City’s modest investment of approximately $50,000, the project became a reality. Contributions also came from the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which helped offset costs and allowed the park to be completed sooner. Furthermore, Entergy provided support by installing lighting that will keep the park accessible during the early evening hours as the days grow shorter.
Swigert emphasized the collaborative spirit of the project, giving credit to the Skate Park Coalition and local residents who advocated for the amenity and worked tirelessly to see it come to fruition.
“It’s more than just a skate park,” Swigert said. “It’s a symbol of what can be accomplished when people in the community are passionate about a project and come together to make it happen.”
Photos courtesy of Victoria Good and the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
