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West Bend to hire Grindline for skate‑park design; Friends group and donor to fund planning
Summary
The City of West Bend authorized a contract with Grindline Skateparks Inc. to produce design and construction documents for a proposed concrete skate park in Regner Park. Friends of West Bend Skatepark and donor Mike Nast committed funding for the design phase; construction funding will be raised later.
The City of West Bend Board of Public Works on Oct. 20 approved a contract with Grindline Skateparks Incorporated to provide design, public outreach and construction documents for a proposed skate park to be sited in Regner Park.
Parks Department staff member Mike (last name not specified) told the board Grindline responded to a request for proposals sent to seven firms; two proposals were received and staff, with support from Friends of West Bend Skatepark, recommended Grindline. "The contractor contract with Grindline would be about approximately $50,830 which would be paid for by Friends of West Bend Skatepark," Mike said. He also said local donor Mike Nast had committed $50,000 toward planning and design.
The city says the contract would cover design planning sessions with staff and Friends of West Bend Skatepark, public input sessions, construction documents, marketing materials and cost estimates for a three‑phase project. The Parks presenter said the team reviewed roughly 25 potential locations and selected Regner Park east of the existing sport court because it offers electricity, restrooms, parking and visibility; the site is adjacent to active park uses such as baseball diamonds and the Riverwalk. "We have electricity there. We have restrooms over by the Hardball diamond," the presenter said.
City officials and council members clarified funding: the design contract is covered by Friends of West Bend Skatepark and the $50,000 donor commitment; further construction costs are anticipated to come from fundraising and park impact fees. The presenter said the city attorney advised park impact fees could be used for the project because it would be a new amenity rather than a like‑for‑like replacement. "But no property tax or tax dollars towards this project. Just staff time during the development fundraising," the presenter said.
Board members asked about long‑term operations and revenue. Staff described the skate park as comparable to a playground: open for general public use, with the city expecting some program revenue from camps, clinics and competitions but not enough to offset construction costs.
The motion to award the contract was made by Alderman Seitzer and seconded by Alderman Zingzine; the board carried the motion.
If the contract proceeds on the current schedule, staff said design and construction documents should be completed by February, after which the city and Friends of West Bend Skatepark would begin a fundraising campaign for construction.
