Skate Park in Snoqualmie looks to be Reality after a Decade of Discussion

It’s been talked about for over a decade, but the City of Snoqualmie and a group volunteers are closer to making a skate park reality in Snoqualmie.

In the spring of 2014, the Snoqualmie Parks Department identified a chunk of land at Snoqualmie Community Park that could hold a future skate park. Unfortunately, the city did not have the budget to fund it, so grants have been pursued for the skate park’s design and construction.

Two years later, the park has conceptual design and more grants are being sought to cover its estimated $350,000 price tag.

The future skate park is slated for the 6,000-7,000 square foot area of grassy field located at the south end of the Community Park’s basketball court – and right across from the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA.  The Parks Department feels the high visibility of this spot makes it the perfect, central location for area kids.

Snoqualmie Skatepark Collective (SSC), a group of 10-15 community members, including youth, parents and a few city employees, was instrumental in the concept design phase.

SSC is overseen by former Snoqualmie Valley YMCA Teen Leadership Director John Lockie, who says once the group has a final skate park design, their fundraising efforts will kick into high gear. Lockie says right now the conceptual design is really close to being finalized – about 95% complete.

The City of Snoqualmie says the goal for completing construction of the skate park is 2018.

So far the project has secured a $175,000 grant from the Recreation Conservation Office. Close to $200,000 in grant applications are in the works – from the Youth Sports Facility, YMCA of Greater Seattle and the Snoqualmie Tribe – and some private funding is also starting to come in.

SSC is also considering a future GoFundMe online fundraising campaign where local residents can contribute to the project and help make a Snoqualmie Skate Park reality.