MUSKEGON, MI – Design concepts for a new skate park near downtown Muskegon and Heritage Landing are expected to be pursued by the city of Muskegon.

The city has prepared a request for qualifications from firms able to provide design ideas and cost estimates for a skate park at Rotary Park.

The 2-acre park is nestled between the Heritage Landing park and festival grounds and the relatively new headquarters for the Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore.

Rotary Park and Heritage Landing are owned by Muskegon County and the county board of commissioners recently gave initial endorsement of placing a skate park there.

“It’s a good healthy way to keep kids out of trouble and off the streets,” said Commissioner Marcia Hovey-Wright.

The Muskegon Rotary Club also has given its support for the idea. The club raised the money to purchase the park property from the former Muskegon Y, and later turned the property over to the county.

City officials have been discussing development of a skate park downtown for several years. They had pursued other sites, including ones on Terrace and Ninth streets, along with Rotary Park.

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The Rotary Park site became most attractive because of its proximity to the Boys & Girls Club and the Lakeshore Trail, which could help young people access the skate park.

The Boys & Girls Club board also has endorsed the idea.

An existing playground at Rotary Park would be preserved and kept separate and plans are to put up fencing at the skate park, according to the city’s RFQ.

The city’s RFQ seeks a firm to help with conceptual designs, including through public involvement, and, once the city and its partners identify funding, come up with a final detailed design and then oversee construction.

Yet to be ironed out are liability issues, though the city’s intention is to be responsible for the skate park.

Concern about liability and maintenance related to the park prompted some county commissioners to say they would prefer to turn the property over to the city, or at least lease it.

However, Commissioner Susie Hughes said, “I just see so many negative things with this,” and joined county Commissioner Malinda Pego in voting against supporting the city’s efforts.

Hughes referenced a former skate park that had been located at the city’s Seyferth Park but was mostly removed in 2016 due to its deteriorating condition. It had been erected in 1999.

Some preliminary community…