Talkeetna Residents Reimagine Skatepark

Talkeetna residents are reimagining the skatepark located just south of the downtown area.  A broken ramp and other pieces were recently removed to help envision new features in the old space. 

Skatepark Committee Chair Caitlin Palmer says they are dusting off an old plan from ten years ago. The original committee did a tremendous amount of work, which helps ease the process. 

The Mat-Su Borough allowed the Committee to use about a quarter acre for the entire site. That includes the skate area, parking, and the required landscape screening. But ten years ago, the site was the old library and it took a lot of work to clear it. The skatepark was never fully developed. Though their permit to use the site expired, they hope to get reapproval in December. 

Grindline Skateparks from Seattle is helping to plan out the features. The concept includes about 7,500 square feet for the skate area, but the plan is scalable depending on funding. Lots of grant opportunities are out there for these kinds of projects, but they’ll need completed plans to know how much funding to request for construction.

Palmer says the skatepark is one more recreational amenity for the community to share during the summer months. And it’s close to downtown making it accessible for residents along the Spur Road and in the heart of Talkeetna.