Project Overview

The mission and purpose of the 10,000 sq ft Batesville Skatepark Project is to encourage physical activity and creative outdoor play by offering a cost-free opportunity within our community for people of all ages and skill levels. Local medical professionals are seeing an increase in mental health issues with our teens and the incidence is worsening as a result of the pandemic. In addition, children and teens are more socially isolated than ever before, not only because of the pandemic but also because of the tremendous use of electronic devices in and out of school. Physical exercise, outdoor activity, creative play, and social interaction are all proven ways to decrease anxiety and depression. A skatepark offers all of these. The Covid-19 pandemic has amplified the critical importance of outdoor public spaces, not only for the space they provide for physical activity and exercise but also for the space they provide for safely interacting with others. Outdoor recreational spaces, such as the skatepark, provide a multitude of benefits to our community by reducing social isolation, increasing physical activity, and providing a place for positive community interactions, regardless of household income status. The proposed skatepark is located adjacent to the Batesville Baseball Plex and Bill Gillespie Soccer Park, providing families with entertainment while visiting the area during soccer and baseball games and tournaments and providing an alternative activity for teens who don’t play organized sports. The planned size of the skatepark will be 10,000 square feet. This size is large enough to hold skating competitions which will drive visitors to the ARI region.