Lorain City Council is reviewing a proposed $1.5 million contract for a new skatepark, with questions surrounding the project’s timeline, funding deadlines, and elements of the bidding process.
Council voted to send the proposal to committee for further review, reflecting a divided stance among members on whether the project is ready to move forward as presented.
The proposed skatepark, planned for the former Lorain Products site on F Street, has been in development for years and has included input from local skaters and national figures such as Chad Muska. The project is being designed by Spohn Ranch Skateparks and is expected to be one of the larger skateparks in the region.
Two bids were received on time for construction of the project, with a third submitted after the deadline and not considered. The lowest bid came from Slip in Concrete LLC, while a second bid from Newline Skateparks was higher.
City officials have emphasized the importance of staying within legal bidding requirements and maintaining the project timeline. Matt Kusznir said delays could jeopardize the project’s schedule, noting the skatepark is tied to federal block grant funding with a spending deadline later this year.
Council members also acknowledged limitations in the process once bids are received. Tony Dimacchia said the city must work within the legal bidding process and warned that reopening bids could put funding at risk.
Questions raised by council members and residents have focused on the bidding process, including how many contractors ultimately submitted bids and whether late-stage addendums may have impacted participation. While multiple contractors were contacted, only two bids were submitted by the deadline.
Members of the local skateboarding community have also raised concerns about the design itself. Dominic Jacobs said outreach was made to numerous skatepark builders but resulted in limited bids, raising questions about the competitiveness of the process.
Councilwoman Mary Springowski said her decision to send the legislation to committee was driven by concerns about how changes to the project could impact its long-term use, stating this was presented to council as potentially being the largest skate park in the state and that changes to the originally submitted design and the late addendum to the bid package made her question whether that would affect the city’s ability to host competitions in the future.
Springowski also emphasized the importance of community input and additional review, saying one to two weeks will not compromise the project and that the move to committee is simply due diligence on a major investment.
Committee Chair Victoria Kempton said the legislation was sent to committee to allow for further review before a final decision is made. The committee is scheduled to meet April 27, after which the proposal is expected to return to full council for consideration.
At the same time, city officials have warned that timing remains a critical factor. The project is tied to federal funding that must be allocated by a set deadline, and delays beyond that timeline could put a significant portion of the funding at risk.
Council members now face a decision between moving forward under current terms or taking additional time to review design and process concerns. The proposal is expected to return to full council following the committee meeting for a final vote.
As of now, it is not known whether any changes to the contract or design will be made before the next council vote.
