Valparaiso closing its skate park, plans new modern one

"We think the future is something new and better," he said. 

Seibert said they are currently negotiating for some space in the city for the new park. It will be highly visible and more accessible, Seibert said. Once the property is secured, the design of the park (with input from local youths) will begin along with a fundraising effort. 

Seibert said the park, which will feature concrete bowls and be accessible for bikes too, will be easier to maintain and resemble a piece of art.

"The outcome will be spectacular," he said. "There will be nothing like it between Chicago and Indianapolis." 

Seibert said the park's cost is estimated to be $500,000 to $600,000. It would be paid through a combination of public/private funding. It probably will take a few years, with 2017 a possibility for completion. 

"There's a little bit of sense of urgency in wanting to get it done because we don't have anything until it's done," Seibert said. "But we're committed to getting something done."

Flounder Skate Park was named after Ray Wampler, a local teen and skateboarding enthusiast who was killed in a car-vs-train accident in January 1997. His nickname was "Flounder." A classmate in the car who survived the crash, Dug Ketterman, helped design the skate park. Ketterman has since become renowned for designing and building skate parks and will assist with Valpo's new one, Seibert said. 

Seibert said the new skate park will retain the name Flounder.