Does Mankato Need a Free Public Skatepark?
Our search led us to two local skaters who are confident that the answer is yes.
Jack Fritz and Andrew Slocum were invited on the TF Cast to discuss what it would take to get Mankato a free public skatepark.
Mankato has made it a priority to support outdoor activities for its community.
With about 40,000 people living in Mankato and another 14,000 in North Mankato, we certainly have the population density required to support such a investment.
Skating for many young people offers an awesome chance learn and grow. For me personally I know that my time at skateparks challenged me to overcome fears and practice skills that pushed me to be a more capable and confident version of myself.
Chesley Skatepark owned by the YMCA and located near the MSU campus was rebuilt in 2016 after a fire and is the only skate park in the area. Limited hours and cost have kept some away and made it more unavailable to the general public and people just looking to try out skating.
Jack and Andrew have been meeting with local businesses and organizations who might be able to help them bring a free park to Mankato, but so far no concrete plans have been laid.
Inspired by St Cloud’s recent Skatepark development, Jack and Andrew agree that Mankato deserves more. They add that even a small patch of concrete with the rail and half pipe would be a great asset, but they hope for more.
A fundraiser was created to add awareness and prove to the city of Mankato that a free skatepark is a value for residents.
You can show support for this project by donating to the fundraiser linked here and by reaching out to those involved to offer support.
To learn more, check out episode 15 of the TF Cast to catch our conversation with Andrew and Jack where we discussed this and much more.
