Hastings Skate Park equipment removal to begin Sept. 19

Skateboarders in Hastings will notice some improvements to the skate park near the Parks and Recreation office on Third Street.

The Hastings Parks and Recreation Department will build a new and upgraded community skate park at the site of the current skate park.

Removal of the current equipment will start the weekend of Sept. 19. Then, construction of the new facility will begin on or around Oct. 1.

Installation of the new equipment is expected to take three to four months.

The current skate park, installed in 2003, is outdated and worn, prompting years of requests from local skaters for a modern space.

The new facility — designed by one of the nation’s top skate park firms — will replace the old infrastructure and feature new elements like a horseshoe bowl, a feature not found in nearby communities; a pump track; grind ledges; quarter pipe; stairs with a ledge; and spectator seating. The Hastings Kiwanis Club is raising $200,000 of the $525,000 project total. The remaining balance will be paid for by the City’s ½ cent sales tax.