Special to Iredell Free News
The Town of Mooresville will open its renovated skate park, located at 748 W. Iredell Avenue, on Saturday, December 3, with a free public celebration event from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
The renovated park will provide residents of Mooresville and the surrounding area with access to the largest skate park in the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic.
Town of Mooresville Parks & Recreation built the initial skate park in 2008 for $436,000. It was a fenced concrete pad with rails, boxes, ledges and used metal ramps. Phase 2 was supposed to add concrete bowls and an urban street course, but the Town halted the project when the recession hit.
The Town repaired the former skate park several times during its 12-year lifespan and ultimately decided to tear it down and build a new one.
In February 2022, Mooresville Board of Commissioners unanimously approved spending $2.8 million to redesign, construct, renovate and improve the skate park on the same site.
The Town sent the community a 40-question survey about the design of the new skate park. Their input helped the Town determine what type of park to build and what it should include — new bowls, new ramps, and an artistic nod to NASCAR’s presence in Mooresville. Skateboarders and their families will now have access to bathrooms, water fountains, lights, and a shaded viewing area, which were not offered at the previous park.
The Town did run into some challenges during construction. Parks & Recreation Assistant Director Darrin Hucks says the Coronavirus pandemic led to increased costs for some material and difficulty finding materials.
Hucks says the new skate park could impact local businesses.
“It will allow us to serve the area’s skaters and also offer the opportunity to bring in events that will provide an economic impact to Mooresville,” he explained.
The new park impacts residents in Iredell County as well as neighboring counties. The closest skate parks are more than 30 minutes away in Charlotte, Denver, Hickory, and Lexington.
The skate park will be open to the public daily starting December 3 from sunrise until 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
Can we get an ice rink? I mean it’s 40-plus minutes to the closest place to go. Seems outside of breweries and restaurants Mooresville lacks options for dating, and also would benefit from the additional sport of hockey.
Statesville needs a skate park. Troutman too. And not so much housing at one time. Since I was a young girl I’ve wished we had an ice rink. Used to have a skate rink but they closed. Our kids are important and they need safe places to go. Keeps them out of trouble too. Pat