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Committee directs staff to pursue lease talks for downtown "HiWatt" DIY skate plaza
Summary
Presenters asked the committee to endorse moving forward on a ground lease for a multiuse downtown skate plaza called HiWatt; the council directed staff to prepare lease exhibits and continue negotiations after a presentation describing site, programming and a $1.5–$2 million capital target.
Chairwoman Adams and committee members directed staff to work with presenters on a proposed downtown "DIY" skate plaza branded "HiWatt," after a presentation from community organizers and the Downtown Winston Salem Partnership.
Jason Theel, president of the Downtown Winston Salem Partnership, told the committee the partnership will act as a "physical agent" to help organizers form a nonprofit and advocate for the project. Presenters Brian Ledbetter and Jerry Cooper said they had identified a corridor between 7th and 8th on Marshall for a skate plaza that would be multiuse — a plaza, pump track, walking trail and children's playground — and emphasized the project's inclusion and youth development benefits. "We cannot do this without the city," Ledbetter said, asking the committee for a ground lease to move the project forward.
The presenters described the project's goals in both recreation and downtown activation terms: Ledbetter said the concept is intended to be a destination that connects to nearby amenities, and he introduced the brand name "HiWatt" as a nod to nearby energy and amphitheater uses. Jerry Cooper highlighted the site's accessibility and the local skate community's diversity, saying downtown "was a perfect landing place because it's accessible to everyone."
Council members asked practical questions about operations, safety and cost. Council member Cipio asked whether the park would have lights and if it would be supervised; Ledbetter said the current plan is "dusk to dark" and that many skate parks are "self‑policing," while presenters committed to following appropriate security protocols. Mayor Allen Jones asked about cost and fundraising; Ledbetter estimated a national‑level destination park would be "between $1.5 to $2,000,000" and said the group plans a capital campaign, naming opportunities and partnerships to raise funds.
On a motion by Councilwoman Jordan directing staff to follow up and prepare a complete exhibit for the council, the committee voted in favor and instructed staff to work on a lease agreement with the presenters. The committee did not approve any funding in the meeting; the action directed staff to bring back lease details and design exhibits for further consideration.
