WARSAW — National Go Skateboarding Day is Saturday, and Warsaw Parks will celebrate with an event at Mantis Skate Park.

The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will include a door prize, free goodie
bags and ice cream from 3 to 4 p.m. (while supplies last).

Remember, participants must be present to win the door prize!

Helmets are mandatory, and a waiver and emergency contact form must be
completed in order to skate. If we don’t have them on file yet, don’t worry — forms will be
available for you (or a parent/guardian) to fill out on site or can be found on our website.

Sponsors for the park include Papa John's, Sterling Contracting, and Linda
Chastain.

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WARSAW — The idea of relocating the Mantis Skate Park from Boggs Industrial Park to the west end of Richardson-Dubois Park on West Market Street has been resurrected.

The cost of the project six years ago (when the plan was first proposed), was estimated to be $465,000, and the parks department already has a design.

The original plan was shelved after the city did not receive a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

[caption id="attachment_108862" align="alignright" width="440"] Land that would be part of a future skate park includes the old Liz Frazier softball field on the west end of Richardson-Dubois Park on West Market Street. Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer said they intend to establish a permanent memorial to honor Frazier in the future. The softball field hasn't been used in many years, but the original sign honoring Frazier on the backstop remains. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Officials will again seek to secure grant funding from various sources, said Larry Plummer, superintendent of Warsaw Parks and Recreation.

The parks board and Mayor Jeff Grose support the renewed effort, he said.

The skate park would be located between the restrooms and a shopping center to the west.

While the existing park has been popular, Plummer said he thinks a new home would attract more people.

"Absolutely, kids would have better access to it without having to rely on parents to take them out clear to Boggs," Plummer said.

The design by American Ramp Company features modern skate bowl designs that are common in skate parks.

A new location might even decrease the number of skateboarders in the downtown area, he said.

"This would give them the option to go skate at a really nice facility — a concrete bowl and ramps — a couple of blocks away from the downtown," Plummer said.

Officials previously had lined up $150,000 from the K21 Health Foundation but that was pulled back after state grant money fell through.

Plummer acknowledged that money from the $30 million Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative could potentially be one of several sources of money for the project, but declined to speculate further.

Land that would be part of a future skate park includes the old Liz Frazier softball field.

Plummer said they intend to establish a permanent memorial to honor Frazier in the future.

The softball field hasn’t been used in many years, but a sign honoring Frazier remains on the old backstop.

Plummer said he intends to reach out to the Frazier family if the plan moves forward.

The current skate park has always relied on staffing because of the potential for kids to damage some of the ramps and other aspects of the facility, but that would not be the case for a cement bowl design, Plummer said.

The park would include a fence and a rotating gate to ensure mopeds and motorcycles could not get inside, he said.

He said they hope to have grant money lined up over the next year so that plans can move forward.

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Staff Report

WARSAW — Warsaw Parks and Recreation has two events coming up Friday and another later in August.

The summer concert series continues Friday with a concert by the Lake Area Community Band at Central Park's Glover Pavillion.

Showtime is 7 p.m. and the show is free.

The concert series is supported by Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Indiana Arts
Commission, 107.3 WRSW, Willie 103.5, and News Now! Warsaw.

Also Friday night is the Late Skate Glow Night at Mantis Skate Park, 400 Little League Drive, at 8 p.m.

Papa John's pizza will be available for all participants. We will have glow paint available for you to paint your shirt if you wish to bring an extra shirt with you.

Also part of the fun are goodie bags that will be distributed plus two people will receive Tony Hawk autographed photos. Jimmy John's gift card will also bv given away.

Helmets are required at all times. A waiver and emergency contact forms must be on
file to participate. Forms will be available to be completed by you (or a parent/guardian) if not already on file.

Another event geared toward young people arrives on Aug. 17 when the parks department will host a laser tag battle where participants spend timed intervals competing against the other team to score points.

Each battle will test tactical skills and quick decisions. Obstacles and barricades will provide coverage as you take on your opponents.

The game is set for 6 p.m. at the Pete Thorne Gym.

All equipment will be provided along with snacks and drinks. Registration is required
and is open through August 10th, or until filled.

To register, click here

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WARSAW — Warsaw Parks and Recreation will host Late Skate Glow Night at Mantis Skate Park on Friday night.

The event runs from 8 to 10 p.m. and features black lights, glow-in-the-dark items
and much more.

The event is open to all ages and Papa John's Pizza will be available.

Each participant will receive some goodies!! If you have any bright-colored shirts, make
sure you wear them so the black lights bring them to life.

An annual waiver and emergency contact form must be on file. Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian sign these forms which are available on the city website or at the Mantis Skate Park during operating hours!

Gold Level Sponsorship by State Farm Agent Linda Chastain and Bronze Level Sponsorship by Papa Johns.

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WARSAW -- It’s a new era for the Mantis Skate Park in Warsaw.

When the skate park opens for the season at 10 a.m. on Saturday, visitors will see numerous improvements including three new pieces of equipment.

The park is now also setting aside specific hours for BMX bikes. The first dedicated hours for BMX bikes will be Monday from 4 to 6 p.m.

(Story continues below)

[caption id="attachment_78787" align="aligncenter" width="778"] Mantis Skate Park includes three new features, including the cement structure on the left and two new rails, including the one on the right. News Now Warsaw photos by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Plans to relocate the park were shelved over a lack of available monies so the city decided to rededicate itself to improving the existing facility, says recreational director Stephanie Shaefer.

The parks staff renovated some of the ramps and added three new features -- a cement structure and two rails -- with the estimated $7,000 cost being covered with American Rescue funds.

“We have a cement feature, which a lot of kids have asked for that for a long time and the two rails are very different from what we’ve had.  We’re very lucky this summer to offer some new things for the kids," Shaefer said.

“I think that’s important. I think adding these new features and helping improve it will bring in some new skaters,” she said.

The Park features a Rhino Ramp System, thanks to support from the K21 Health Foundation. 

With the improvements, it's likely that the park will remain in the Boggs Industrial Park for the next few years.

Efforts to relocate the park to an area along East Market Street was shelvedvafter attempts to win grant money were unsuccessful.

Skateboards, scooters, and inline skates are welcome. The park has skateboards and helmets available for use. The facility is fully-supervised and requires the use of helmets.

Shaefer stepped into her role about two years ago but has a long history with the parks department. In fact, 16 years ago, she oversaw the skate park.

All four of her children have been fans of the skate park.

Her past experience with the park and her children's interest in growing up around the park undoubtedly work in her favor as an advocate for the park.

"My oldest son, Austin, is 31 and he started out at that park when he was three years old and he still goes out there," she said.

"This is very near and dear to me," she said. "I've seen what it does for teenagers. it gives them a great place to come out."

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW -- Mantis Skate Park in Warsaw is opening its doors to BMX bikes this year.

Warsaw Parks and Recreation officials have heard the call for bike use at the skate park for a while and are trying it out at the facility at 400 Little League Drive, Warsaw beginning next week.

The skate park will open for the season at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, and will set aside six hours a week for bikes. See the chart below.

"We think this is a great opportunity to add some other things in Warsaw ... for those teens looking for something else to do," Shaefer said.

She said they'll be watching to ensure rules are followed to avoid possible damage to the equipment.

"If it goes well, I think this is something we would keep," she said.

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WARSAW -- The city of Warsaw will use some of its remaining American Rescue Plan money to significantly boost park activities this year.

The city received upward of $3.1 million in emergency COVID money and has spent a little more than half of that so far and has a few more years to do so.

Officials agreed to provide $25,000 for the endeavor and about $19,000 will be used this year.

On Tuesday, the park board and city council OK'd detailed plans to upgrade Mantis skate park and establish numerous new and expanded programs

That includes $7,500 for upgrades at Mantis Skate Park that will open the door for bicycles use at the park during certain hours

Much of the other money will go toward supplies.

Recreational director Stephanie Schaefer detailed a long list of new programs with an emphasis on serving teens and senior citizens.

She said her plan is to start small and see how it goes. She also wants to provide programming that can continue with federal money is no longer available..

Other highlights:

• A new mommy-son dance
• A new mommy-son nerf battle
• Senior citizen paint class
• The hiring of a pickleball instructor

Existing programs such as the Family Carnival, Fall Family Fun and Santa’s workshop will all be expanded.

City councilwoman Diance Quance, who sits on the city’s ARPA committee, said she helped get the ball rolling by working with Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer and Shaefer.

 From there, Schaefer began brainstorming a list that was then trimmed down and presented to the park board.

 Shaefer said she’s not overwhelmed by the large expansion of programs and is excited to provide residents with new opportunities in the city parks.

 Below are documents outlining the plans.

[gallery size="full" columns="1" ids="75345,75346,75344"]

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