Three designs for proposed Lorain skatepark unveiled

LORAIN — Skateboarders and other skate-park enthusiasts got their first look Saturday at three designs for a proposed skate park slated to be open at Longfellow Park next year. Pro skateboarder Chad Muska, a native of the International City who lived there until he was 6, representatives of the California-based skate-park design firm Spohn Ranch Inc. and backers of the proposed skatepark met in the Lorain Palace Theatre to look over the proposals. It won't just be for skateboarders: Designers specifically said they want to make the park accesible to BMX riders and inline skaters, too. Adam Eichorn, a skatepark developer with Spohn Ranch, said his firm wants to make the park work for enthusiasts, to look great, and to fit in with the community. To "have something for everybody," he said. Eichorn encouraged design input from the people who will use it, saying it has to "ride" right for them, attract riders and have "a consistent flow and speed" for those who will use it. "We want the park to 'pop,'" he said. The first design was actually two variations on a single design. Both were shaped like a big "L" for "Lorain." That design Eichorn called "very street heavy" — meaning for those who do ground-level tricks, and "grind" or slide on rails and edges. One skater in attendance called that initial design "gorgeous" and "phenomenal." A second concept was more open, shaped like a large diamond with a depression or "bowl" at the bottom — think a shallow swimming pool, about 4 feet deep. One person joked it looked a little like Ghostface, the killer from the "Scream" series of slasher movies. Aside from the joke, the skaters who were there said that design appeared built for better speed, better flow and less crowding, which made it safer for beginners or younger skaters, they said. A few commented that the liked the addition of grass and trees in two islands inlaid into the design. The ultimate goal of Saturday's presentation was to take the plans and what designers learned and "create a final design," Eichorn said. That's when the actual dimensions of the park will be worked out. Plans for the skatepark have been in the works since 2021. Muska has returned to Lorain several times for community forums and to speak in support of the project. The city set aside $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding for the skatepark in 2022. The following year, it started taking proposals to build on approximately 1.35 acres at Longfellow Park, at 1850 Cleveland Blvd. on the city's east side. Eichorn previously estimated the cost at from $600,000 to $1 million. Muska said Saturday if at least $500,000 is raised with help from the community, who can show that the will to build the park is there, it will be easier to find more sponsors. The goal is to open the park in 2025. Those who still want to give input can go to tinyurl.com/4b97kpn8. Recognized by his peers as one of the most influential skaters of the last 30 years, Muska said he hopes to encourage his fellow pro skaters and tours to use the Lorain skatepark when they're in town. Skating is "a form of art" that has developed its own lingo, clothing, music, art, fashion, style and community, Muska said. "A skatepark is like a training ground," he said Saturday. "We want to make the best park we can within the budget we have." Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.