Bundy Park Proposal Details

Dear Community,

Over the last year, our nonprofit, Siding 45, has raised over $112,000 to build a skatepark in Glasgow. Half of those funds came from Jeff Ament's foundation Montana Pool Service, and we aim to take advantage of more opportunities to bring outside money into our community.

Our next step is to find a location for the park, and we are hoping to build it in Bundy Park. This idea has not been confirmed but last month the city council decided to look into the technicalities and eventually hold a public hearing about it. I'd like to clear up any misunderstandings about this proposal.

If we are able to build the skatepark at Bundy, it would not impede existing usage of the park. The 5,500 square feet park would be located where the swing set and slide are now. We have offered to help fundraise for a new play structure, to be built on the other side of the picnic shelter. It will not encroach on the soccer or t-ball fields, and it will not take up half the park. We are not proposing to take down the picnic shelter. In fact, we have volunteered to repaint and repair it.

So, why Bundy Park? When thinking about any new piece of infrastructure, it's important to consider what will make it successful. The last thing we want to do is put all this time and money into something that will not be used. At a minimum, a skatepark should have shade, water, and bathrooms. They are most successful when near a school and are safest when they are highly visible and accessible. Most other options were tucked away into a corner of town where no one would be able to see it well; in order to ensure safety it's important that the skatepark be visible. When surveying all the different city-owned lots in town, we found that Bundy is the only location that satisfies all of this criteria.

A skatepark in Bundy will not diminish, but actually enhance, the park. Providing more recreation opportunities will entice more families to spend time in our beautiful park. With a new play structure, Flip Burgers and the Pioneer Museum nearby, the park will be an even more lovely place to spend an afternoon.

I have heard concerns that skateboarding is unnecessarily dangerous. In actuality, it is statistically less dangerous than basketball. A typical person using a skateboard, scooter, or roller skates will not be going very fast or have very far to fall. When talking to Malta about their skatepark, which was built in 2014 and is slightly smaller than the one we are hoping to build, they told me they haven't had to file any insurance claims due to injury at the skatepark. Of course, injuries happen in any sport, but part of our effort as an organization is to provide education about safe and responsible practices.

Are there kids who want to skateboard? The short answer is yes. I have heard from many people that no one ever used the skatepark, but have also had many conversations with young families who loved the skatepark. The truth is that the old skatepark was flawed. Crossing the highway was prohibitive and the lack of shade or water created an unfriendly environment. And, unfortunately, the ramp system wasn't designed well or built to last. I know from personal experience that the old skatepark was used by some kids and families, but we anticipate more usage with the new skatepark because it will be better designed in a better location.

My friends and I helped get that skatepark built when we were teenagers and it is very special to us. Some of my most lasting friendships were formed while fundraising for it and I am so grateful that we had it. However, when it was built we didn't have access to some of the resources that we have now. Organizations like Montana Pool Service and Montana Skatepark Association exist solely to help small towns build high quality, highly usable skateparks. In short, they're super fun to use and kids in those towns love them. Our organization has been working hard to make sure the kids in our town have one, too.

If you're curious about the skateparks in question, I really recommend stopping at the ones in Malta, Lewistown, Havre, Big Sandy, Box Elder, Hays, or Lincoln, all of which were built with cooperation by the same organizations we are working with. Butte, Whitefish, Billings, Darby, Arlee, St. Ignatius, Browning and many more have great skateparks as well.

I would love the opportunity to answer your questions. Please reach out to me, or attend a meeting. We meet every second and fourth Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Wheatgrass Arts & Gallery. Our email address is [email protected], and we can be found on Facebook and on Instagram @glasgowmtskatepark. Our website is glasgowmtskatepark.com.

Sincerely,

Tess Fahlgren

President of Siding 45