Skate Park in Ironwood a Great Reality

IRONWOOD, MI - by Keri Singleton - Sunday, May 23, 2010 - Local skateboard enthusiasts, BMX bike riders, and in-line skaters have a professional place to actually ride locally; a beautiful new skateboard park in Ironwood, Michigan, on Burma Road, right down from Hiawatha, the world’s tallest Indian. Hiawatha is visible from the park. It is fitting to have Hiawatha Rotary Skate Park right down the street from one of our most famous attractions.

Saturday, May 22, 2010, was the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Hiawatha Rotary Skate Park, with many people in attendance; from City Commissioners, to local police, to all the riders and spectators, to local press. Many riders were on hand for the ribbon cutting, and fifteen-year old Dominic Mieloszyk had the honor of cutting the ribbon. The youngsters in the front row are, from left to right: Dillan Saari (8), Zach Hammon (11), Ian Sackett (10), Nathan Dray (11), Nick Ruby (11), and young Jacinto Lauzon (2), with her Grandma Pam Asunto behind her.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, gifts generously donated by the Hobby Wheel, 1435 East Cloverland Drive, Ironwood, were given away in a drawing. Ironwood Public Safety Officer Brandon Snyder drew names for prizes ranging from water bottles to skateboards. Huge thanks to Hobby Wheel for these donations.

Money donated from the Tony Hawk Foundation, the Ironwood-Hurley Rotary Club, private donations, as well as grants make Hiawatha Rotary Skate Park possible. Big thanks go out to all who donated time, money, or any other kind of support. Making this skate park a reality is going to go a long way for the area, as evident by the number of participants. In a culture where all we hear about are the ballooning obesity rates of our youth, it’s great to see Ironwood providing somewhere for the youth to have an outlet, as well as helping them to stay in excellent physical shape. Of course, the park is not limited to the youth; young and old alike are urged to partake. Whether it’s skateboarding, in-line skating, or BMX bike riding, there is now a place to go.

Also present in the ribbon-cutting photo are: IPSD officers Brandon Snyder and Ron Carpenedo; Nancy Gotta and Kim Kolesar from the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce. Representing the Ironwood-Hurley Rotary club was Dr. Paul Hagemann of Hurley, Lori, Steve, and Nick Lahti, City manager Scott Erickson, Ironwood High School Guidance Counselor Marci Kusz, Sam and Colton Fontecchio, and Ironwood City Commissioners Gemma Lamb and Rick Semo. For anyone not listed, I apologize.

Thanks again to all who made this park a reality. Hiawatha Rotary Skate Park is sure to be a major attraction for locals and visitors alike.