Commission approves Regner Park sport-court area as preferred site for new West Bend skate park

The West Bend Park and Recreation Commission voted on Feb. 27 to approve the Regner Park sport-court area as the preferred site for a proposed new skate park.

The recommendation follows a staff presentation and a multi-month partnership with the Friends of West Bend Skate Park, a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Isaac Sharp, who identified himself during public comment as president of the Friends of West Bend Skate Park, said his group prioritized a modern concrete skate-park design and pointed to lost local spending when families travel outside the city for skate facilities. "My family — we skate about 2 to 3 times a week, and it's never in the city of West Bend," Isaac Sharp said.

Staff and Friends representatives told the commission they reviewed a broad list of candidate sites. According to staff, the group evaluated more than 20 locations and narrowed them to five finalists: the Regner Park sport-court area, a soccer-field site off Park Avenue, Kester Island, a Riverside Park…