We received numerous emails from readers yesterday about an indoor skate park potentially coming to the South Loop. The sun-times and myfoxchicago have stories on the topic:
Skateboarders wishing to gleam the cube any time of day regardless of the weather outside might soon have their chance.
Presiding over his final City Council meeting Wednesday, Mayor Daley introduced an ordinance that calls for selling — for $1 — four city-owned parcels from 1600 to 1752 S. Clark to the Chicago Park District. The properties include a building that will be transformed in to the city’s first indoor skate park.
“I’m very, very happy with that. It’s right on the corner of 16th and Clark. It’s gonna be an indoor park and it’s gonna be fabulous for skateboarders. Really,” the mayor said. “It’s gonna be open 24 hours-a-day. A lot of young people work at night. They get off at one or two o’clock in the morning. Of course, they want to skate around the city. So, this will be a great indoor facility. It’ll be the only one of its kind in the country. It’ll be a public park. It’s fabulous.”
It would be good for this area as it doesn't get much foot traffic currently. There seems to be issues with how this will be funded, but it would be a nice complement to the recently renovated soccer fields just to the west. We will see...TIF funds anyone?!?!?
(Hat tip: SC, MW, RAF!)
