Ann Arbor in need of a skatepark

City: Ann Arbor,MI 

Most knowledgeable or appropriate person to prepare the grant application: The Foundation Group called Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark.  The actual person that should prepare the grant is Scott Rosencrans, with the help of Diana Kern.  Scott is a former Chair of the Park Advisory Commission and has been on several City commissions, committees, and task forces that have worked on community improvement projects.  Diana, who is the co-chairman of Ann Arbor skatepark fundraising, has been in real-estate where she has overseen multi-million dollar projects.   

Recreation opportunities: Ann Arbor has around 100 city parks, but only 1 has a skating area and that area is only temporary during the summer time.  A majority of the parks have basketball courts and tennis courts, while a few have softball fields and soccer fields.  Only 5 have pools.   

At-risk-youths: kids are skating in the streets or traveling further from home or their neighborhoods to find somewhere to skate.  It is creating dangerous situations for young kids.  Also, obesity is a national risk, and skateboarding provides an activity for children.  A safe place to perform this activity is needed however in the city. Also, the youth can be fined up to $100 by skating on certain city property.   

Median household income: $26,712

The names/distance of nearby skateparks: Buhr Park in Ann Arbor but it is only a temporary skatepark and it is poorly put together with having only a few pre-fabricated ramps scattered around an empty ice rink.   

Qualifications of Applicant

1. Does the Applicant oversee any other programs or activities? 

        Yes, Diana currently does and Scott use to.  

If yes, please describe them.

Scott use to be involved with programs and projects that prevented sports and recreastion facilities from being closed.  

Diana also oversees NEW's ResourceConnect® program.  This program is a nonprofit program that is the community's first stop for assistance with management issues.

2. Who oversees the Applicant's budget?

Diana oversees the budget for the Friends of Ann Arbor skatepark foundation.  

3. Please provide an estimated total cost of the skatepark: 

$800,000-$1,000,000 

4. Please provide a breakdown of the total cost of the skatepark, divided into major categories, such as building materials, equipment, design expenses, etc.:

-30,000 sq. ft: $220,000

-Design: $30,000

-Elevation and Technical documents: $30,000

- Construction: $400,000

-Equipment: $98,000

-Materials: $150,000

5. Does the above cost include a land purchase? If so, how much did the land cost? If the land was donated, who provided it?

The land cost $220,000

6. How much money has been raised for this project? 

$436,000

7. Provide a breakdown of where existing funds have come from.

Grants: $341,000

Donations: $70,000

Fundraising: $25,000

8. Provide a total for additional funds you anticipate (other grants, donations, fundraising income):

$425,000

9. Provide a breakdown of the additional funds you anticipate (source of funds and amount each will contribute):

Grants: $125,000

Donations: $200,000

Fundraising: $100,000

10. Median Household Income in vicinity of proposed project (required), with source of data (Census 2010 from www.census.gov is recommended):

$26,712

11. Please provide any other statistics about "at-risk" youth in the region:

-Obesity

-Safe recreation areas

-Fines

-Skateboard safety

12. Please describe any local laws or bans on skateboarding in public. (Approximately 100 words or less.)

There is an anti-skateboarding ordinance on the campus of the University of Michigan.  There is also a $50-$100 fine for those skateboarding in areas that are off limits.  Since there is no skatepark, the city has become a skatepark.  

13. What is your total annual municipal budget?

$76,345,552

14. What is your annual parks-and-recreation department budget?

       $3,545,819

15. Where are the three nearest existing skateparks, both public and private? Please provide the name of the city and state the skatepark is located in, as well as the distance from your proposed skatepark.

                  a. Buhr Park Ann Arbor, MI (temporary skatepark) Distance (miles): 0

                  b. Riley Skate Park  Farmington Hills, MI Distance (miles): 20

                  c. Skate Zone Belleville, MI Distance (miles): 10

The foundation group that has been formed to build a skatepark in Ann Arbor has been working very hard to make this happen.  They have done everything from asking for grants, applying for grants, requesting donations, and issuing several fundraising events.  They have almost finalized the actual plan for the park, however, they are yet to reach the amount of money that they need.  For more information or interest in getting involved or donating, please visit: http://a2skatepark.org/