DunelandX: The organization has had 501(c) not-for-profit corporation status.

There's no street like Skate Street

POST TRIBUNE article
July 22, 2009
By Charles M. Bartholomew, Post-Tribune correspondent

CHESTERTON -- Even though final finishing touches remain at the region's newest skatepark, it's hard to keep skateboarding youngsters off the bumps, raises and railings. Skate Street, the new skate park on Jackson Street at the east end of the Prairie-Duneland Trail, will be
completed by early next week, according to the head of the construction crew at the work site Tuesday morning.

More than two dozen young people on skateboards and bicycles showed up Tuesday to try out the boxes,pyramids and other elements that began arriving for the 6,200-square-foot concrete park in May. "It's exciting. A lot of kids and their parents helped," said local builder and developer Vic Roberts, who is keeping his men busy during the homebuilding lull by working on the park, assisted by parents and children who helped raise funds for the project.

Skate Street, a name chosen in a contest last year, is the brainchild of Bill Mullin, who spearheaded Duneland Xtreme Sports before he moved to California recently and turned leadership of the group over to treasurer Florian Stecuich. "Bill really did his research. He looked at other parks and the mistakes they made. We're making sure the last 5 percent is done right," Roberts said.

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As Roberts and two of his men worked Tuesday, youngsters who began arriving at 9 a.m. checked out a halfdozen elements with their boards and bikes.
"The kids come from different communities (with their own skate parks) -- LaPorte, Portage, Michigan City, Valpo. They like to make the circuit of all the parks in one day," he said.
Steel worker Leonard Shields of Chesterton said he's been helping weld and seal wood as a committee volunteer.

"My son and I got involved three years ago when we ran a hot dog fundraiser and started going to the
committee meetings. I'm simply amazed at the amount of work that goes into putting one of these together," he said while his son Matt, 14, guided his board over the obstacles.

Roberts said the group is looking at an August dedication ceremony for the park. The last work to be done will be relocation of the trail around the north side of the pad, which was put in astride the existing asphalt path, and installation of a fence. Donations are still being accepted for the last work.