James Windell
The newly reconstructed South Haven Skate Park was officially opened on Sunday, September 29 with a ceremony highlighted by South Haven Mayor Annie Brown cutting the red ribbon.
The just-completed and refurbished skate park is located at 901 East Wells Street. Surrounded by trees, the park features a large concrete bowl as well as a variety of other obstacles such as quarter pipes, rails, stairs, and ledges that will provide riders with numerous challenges.
Flanked by Aaron Priebe, the Director of Parks and Recreation, Parks and Recreation Board Members and other city officials, Mayor Brown welcomed a coterie of skateboarders eager to try out the park.
According to Priebe, construction on the skate park has been ongoing since May, 2024 with the retooled park costing approximately $55,000. The park is free to the public and open daily from dawn to dusk, making it accessible to everyone in the community.
Reopening the skate park is significant, says Mayor Brown. “South Haven is becoming a recreational hub, and the skate park is a great addition to our resources,” Brown says. “It’s going to be very popular.”
Mayor Brown says that she is grateful to Priebe who was instrumental in the planning and overseeing of the construction to the park.
“The park has been in the planning stage for about a year,” says Priebe, “and we began discussing a new skate park more than three years ago.”
Noting the number of skaters who showed up for the grand reopening of the park, Priebe commented that the park will attract more visitors to the city. He also pointed out that the park is much safer than it was in the past.
One of the boarders who showed up to check out the new park was Dave Jonsson. Jonsson, a professional skateboarder and motivational speaker, lives in Vancouver but travels around North America testing out skateparks.
“It’s a great park,” Jonsson said after skating around the park a few times. “It’s great because it offers something for beginners, intermediate and advanced skaters.”
He adds that, “This park is going to bring new life to a generation of skateboarders.”
