Skate park’s a go, after sweating out final zoning question

A zoning issue was resolved Wednesday on an $800K skate park ready to roll at Faith East. Plus, the return of the Airbnb fights, even after a short-term rental ban

• Thanks to today’s sponsors The Bindery Artist Studios and LaLa Gallery, presenting the Indiana Makers Market "Summer Pop-Up.” Mark your calendar for an event that features handpicked makers from all over the state to showcase their handmade items for sale in beautiful downtown Lafayette on Saturday, Aug. 31. The event is free to attend, set up between Fifth and Sixth streets on Ferry Street from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Click here for more information

---

SKATE PARK’S A GO, AFTER SWEATING OUT FINAL ZONING QUESTION

Dirt will start moving at Faith East in a matter of a few weeks on a 270-by-61-foot skate park on the ministries’ Indiana 26 East campus, with construction expected to be done mid-summer 2025, after the site sweated out a necessary zoning variance Wednesday night.

The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 7-0 for a variance that essentially allowed the $800,000 project – a collaboration by Faith Ministries, the city of Lafayette and Tippecanoe County – to go on a piece of the existing parking lot along the southern edge of the church’s property.

The approval came despite a recommendation from the Area Plan Commission staff to deny the request. The rationale was because Faith Ministries had other acreage on its Faith East campus where a skate park could go without waiving a 60-foot setback requirement from right-of-way along Indiana 26.

The skate park is planned for this section of Faith East’s parking lot, near Indiana 26 East. (Photo: Dave Bangert)

The BZA approval also came after the endorsement of skaters, church leaders and neighbors, who said the skate park was needed and in the right spot.

“This is all about meeting the needs of a group of teens and young adults who wish to gather and to socialize with skateboards,” Arvid Olson, Faith’s development director, told the BZA. “There is only a commitment to serve an egregiously under-served population of future leaders, creators and doers. They have wanted to park in this town for years, and nobody was able to do it. We did it. We stuck our neck out.”