Timeline

June 2014: On June 21st, International Go Skate Day, Mayor Stephanie Miner cuts the ribbon and declares the plaza officially open. Check out these photos from the Grand Opening!

May 2014: Eight months after the start of construction (weathering a harsh winter and late spring), the concrete portion of the plaza is complete. The soft opening has happened, everyone is loving it. It has already attracted visitors from as far away as Buffalo. This is Phase I of the original vision. Plans continue to expand and build out the full vision.

August 2013: Thanks to Mayor Stephanie Miner and the City Council, the construction budget was fully funded at the August 5th meeting of the Common Council.

July 2013: Bids come in over budget! Time may be running out on our New York State grant. Construction season is here. Fundraising begins to keep the dream alive! S.J. Thomas Contractors is the successful bidder. Who Skates will be doing the specialty work.

June 2013: The Skate Park Project begins advertising for bids in the Post-Standard on June 2, with bids being due to the City of Syracuse by June 25, 2013.

2012: Eastwood Neighborhood Association partners with the City of Syracuse, Appel Osborne and Pillar Design to detail the design for the bid process.

The concept is to build a concrete plaza for a variety of potential uses with signs that say “Welcome Skateboarders”. The non-skateboarder might not notice the stair sets boarded by hubbas (ledges to glide down), or the variety of ledges and banked hips (angled surfaces to move between). The average skateboarder will notice and be thrilled.

2010: After several grant request submissions, and by downsizing the dream a bit, a $150,000 construction grant from New York State is secured, matched with $50,000 from the City of Syracuse. Another construction grant of $5,000 is received from the Tony Hawk Foundation.

2007: With a basic design concept in mind, work begins to secure funding.

January 2006: The Committee selects Huntington Park as the site for the skate park and gathers more than 1,000 signatures, starting with the neighbors on Woodbine and Stafford Avenues.

September 2005: Seven ENA members gather for the first meeting of the Skateboard Research Committee. The group quickly grew to 25 members, including skaters, parents and a representative from Syracuse Parks. With encouragement from James Street churches and businesses, the research began.