Swede Hill Park will be getting a transformation this upcoming year, which includes the installation of a brand-new skate park and pump track.

The project is currently in the designing stage in partnership with the American Ramp Company.
According to Jessie Black, the park should be breaking ground in Spring 2023.

“I think realistically we’ll be breaking ground next spring,” Black said. “A large goal for the rest of this
year will be securing our funding.”

Thanks to a successful pitch at the 2022 Consumers Energy Foundation “Put Your Town on the Map”
Competition, the city beat out other Michigan communities and won $25,000 to use for the park. When asked on what set them apart, Black believes it was the community-oriented production.

“I think the ways we let the community, especially families and young people, be the voice in our pitch video really resonated with the entire crowd that day.”

The city of Big Rapids has taken community ideas towards the design of the new skate park and pump track. This included a survey where local riders could pick and choose specific elements and styles for the park.

“People could go in and share any ideas they had for the park,” Black said. “The American Ramp
Company is going to take that information and put together some design concepts for us. We’ll be able to group back together in a large meeting of what this design can look like.”

American Ramp Company, who is building the park, has experience constructing parks and tracks in 44 countries across the world. This will be the second park the company has constructed in Michigan,
following the pro-series park built in St. Clair two years ago.

For the community of riders, this dream has been a long time coming. Having a complex to ride in the city will help boost the group’s culture and recognition.

“I lived in Colorado for 15 years and every city and town had a skate park there,” Local rider Steve Pohl said. “It was very inspiring and I feel that Big Rapids needs a taste of that.”

While the benefits of riding can always produce on-edge speed and learning cool tricks, there is a bigger benefit that many people may miss. In an article written by Mind.org, which is a global charity that contributes and promotes information regarding mental health, daily exercise like skating or biking can help manage anxiety, better one’s self-esteem, reduce the risk of depression, and connect with new people.

“For teens, not having an outlet to get energy out from things like social media can be depressing,” Pohl said. “Active people have a healthy mind, so having a skate park is a huge deal for mental health.”

Swede Hill’s addition is one of multiple park projects going on within city’s recreation department.
Hemlock Park is also currently making some renovations, including the addition of a new splash pad and playscape coming soon.

 

When it comes to outlook for the community, Black believes the additions will support a family-oriented experience for residents.

“We’re really trying to give people activities to be able to do and make this a great place to live, work,
and play more than it already is.”
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