By 2021, skate park advocates in Dripping Springs expect to raise $450,000 to build a skate park past the football fields in Founder’s Park.
Local skaters informed Skate Park Austin designers at a community input meeting recently what they consider important for a skaters park.
A variety of ramps and bowls were presented. Then attendees participated in a “Dotmocracy” activity that allowed skaters to place large stickers on designs they would like to see the most and small stickers for lower priority designs.
“We have kids who skate every Wednesday and we bring ramps. These are the ones that are going to use the skate park so I think it’s important that they have a vested interest in the build and creation of the park. Not only will they benefit, but so many others as well.”
–Dennis Baldwin, skate park advocate and parent
Dripping Springs Skate park advocate and parent Dennis Baldwin helped host the event and said local skaters were excited to be a part of the process.
“We have kids who skate every Wednesday and we bring ramps. These are the ones that are going to use the skate park so I think it’s important that they have a vested interest in the build and creation of the park. Not only will they benefit, but so many others as well,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin has spearheaded the movement for a skate park in Dripping Springs and has been raising money for the park and hosting community input meetings.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Eric Henline said the community input meeting will generate the first design of the park, which will help with future fundraising for the park.
“The community input meeting will help designers and topographers build a pretty accurate 3-D rendering of what the park could look like. Hopefully, we can have that completed by the end of the year to show sponsors. Especially for the donation process, it’s always easier to raise money when you can see where your money is going. It will be the first tangible thing we have to look at and say ‘Oh my gosh! That’s the skate park we’re talking about,’” Henline said.
Baldwin said another community input meeting and a fundraising event will be held later this year.
