Not one, but two skate parks in the works in Greater Lafayette

As skaters make their case, Lafayette, the county and Faith Church confirm they're ready to chip in for new skate park at Faith East, while the city considers another one ‘centrally located’

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NOT ONE, BUT TWO SKATEPARKS IN THE WORKS IN GREATER LAFAYETTE

On a blistering hot afternoon a few Sundays ago, Tyrone Taylor, a veteran of the skate community growing up in Greater Lafayette now raising a family in Dayton, took in the scene of skateboarders hitting homebuilt ramps at Lafayette’s Crosser Sports Complex off Elston Road.

Dozens of skaters were sweating through tricks and 90 degree-plus temperatures in the parking lot, the second in a series of skate events Greg Simpson and his Simpson Skates initiative had pulled together this summer in Lafayette parks to nudge forward the idea of a full-fledged skate park somewhere – anywhere – in the community.

One month earlier, at CAT Park on another side of Lafayette, the movement’s first event had drawn hundreds in somewhat cooler temperatures for a day of tournaments, food trucks and DJs spinning a mix of Fugazi, the Bar-Kays and the Ramones.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

“Look over there,” Taylor said, pointing to Crosser ball diamonds that were empty on this particularly steamy Sunday. “Nothing against those, but there’s nobody there right now. I’m telling you, if you had just a fraction of that space set up for kids who wanted to skate, kids would be out skating all the time. I mean, look at everyone here today, even in this heat. I guarantee it.”

Skaters likely will get a chance to prove that in the coming year or so.