WARSAW — After years of looking for state funding and other sources, the city of Warsaw is moving forward with the construction of a modern concrete skate park at Richardson-Dubois Park on East Market Street.

The move was announced at Thursday’s board of works meeting, and parks superintendent Larry Plummer said much of the cost of the $550,000 prorojet will rely on local grant money.

American Ramp Company of St. Louis will construct the all-cement surface park, which will include a bowl shape.

Work is expected to begin in April and be completed by early October, Plummer said.

The existing Mantis Skate Park has been around for decades, but has been pieced together with a series of ramps, and is in an industrial park.

Attempts to secure grant money for a new skate park from the state Department of Natural Resources in recent years did not work out, so the city changed gears and found local support.

That includes $275,000 from K21 Health Foundation, $40,0000 from the local Deco Foundation, and $19,000 from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

The rest will come from the park budget.

Other aspects will include security cameras and lighting. The city will take care of the pavement, he said.

K21 had previously lined up money for the future park, which was first proposed before the pandemic. Separately, over the years, K21 has supported the construction of pickleball courts at Kelly and Bixler parks in the city.

Plummer said he was encouraged by Mayor Jeff Grose to make the pitch to K21.

Plummer applauded the role of non-profits that have supported park projects.

"We're very lucky, very fortunate, to have a foundation that's willing to support health and wellness and give funds to the city and allow us to do projects like this," Plummer said.

He said he especially likes the location because it's close to several neighborhoods and schools, including Lakeview Middle School, which could eventually include students from Edgewood Middle School, and the fact that it sits along a bike route.

"Accessibility from the trail is really what intrigued K21. They want that corridor all the way through town," Plummer said. "Just a great addition to Richardson-Dubois Park. They thought it was a great fit."

The future park will not be fenced in or require supervision.

Plummer said he believes the existing park in Warsaw is the only one in the state that still relies on city staffers for supervision. 

“They do this probably all over the country, and almost 90 percent of their skate parks are not fenced in. They recommend that we don’t,” Plummer said. 

“It just feels more open and inviting for people,” he said. “When you’re a skater, you feel like you wanna be free and try anything you can, and this opens that up.”

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