INDIANA Among the ramps, banks, ledges and bars at Willard Park Skatepark, one ob- stacle stands out: book banks. The obstacle features two ramps pushed together to look like an open book and projects a heart-shaped shad- ow as the sun is setting. Its copper color stands in contrast to the light gray of the rest of the park. a type of ride, opportunities for complicated and simple tricks. exactly what Ethan Williams would have wanted.
A natural Williams died in a shooting in Octo- ber 2020 in New York City. He had been on a skating trip, visiting some of the parks featured in Tony video games. Investigators believe he was shot in a case of mistaken identity. No arrests have been announced in connection to the shooting. At his funeral, dad Jason Wil- liams, 48, was approached by several kids and young adults in the Indy skat- ing community.
They asked if he wanted to help an ongoing project to get a skate- park. They wanted to dedicate it to his son. Jason Williams also was contacted that day by the skate biggest ce- lebrity: Tony Hawk. Jason, Tony Hawk. I am deep- ly saddened to hear what happened to Hawk said in a text message, which pinged on the phone as he walked up to speak at his funeral.
let me know how I can be of ser- vice in any The idea of dedicating a skatepark on east side to Ethan Williams seemed like a natural A skater and scholar Ethan Williams was a facet in the In- dianapolis skating community. He was often found at skating spots, including Arsenal Park, Major Taylor Skatepark and other skateable parts of the city. Outside of skateboarding, he had his own clothing brand, went on multiple mission trips to Rwanda and was a char- ter member of the Indianapolis Youth Leadership Council, where he ad- vocated for the creation of more com- munity spaces, such as skateparks. Ethan Williams also loved books. He was known to many as the book guy, who would sit under trees to read be- tween skating sessions or even pack books into the large pockets of his thrift- ed pants to bring to other people.
Some of the books he gave his friend Joey Hansen, 26, were and Reading was more than a leisure ac- tivity for Ethan Williams, it was a way to learn about other communities, said his mom Susan Williams, 48. had a knack for letting people know that their stories were she said. his love of books, be- cause they helped him understand peo- why the design includ- ed book banks. When they poured concrete for this portion of the park, his parents buried his skating tool and the book by Nowen N. Particular, which Ethan shared with everyone when he was in third grade.
Bringing life back to the project Indy Parks and Recreation took on the skatepark project six years ago but it was held up due to obstacles with grant funding and the time it took to gather community input. Tim Devlin of Indy Skatepark Advo- cates was part of the process since its inception. However, in 2020, Devlin was tired after about four years of hard work. The project was losing traction. Following Ethan death lat- er that year, preserving his memory be- came a new reason to persist.
think it brought life back to the pro- Devlin said. think it needed that After his funeral, Jason Wil- liams joined the project and took up He connected with the skating legend and Mayor Joe Hogsett, who both expressed support for the ska- tepark and later appeared in a video re- leased by the project. The video also featured a clip of 6-year-old Ethan Williams getting the Playstation game Un- and skateboard action ures for Christmas. The Williams family and Indy Ska- tepark Advocates raised awareness throughout Indianapolis and the skat- ing community nationwide. Devlin al- tered the design so it would be easier to construct.
Then, when con- struction broke ground in February, Jason Williams and other community members occasionally dropped pizza by the construction site. Skateparks and community Willard Skatepark known to local skaters as is the built in Indianapolis in about 20 years. also among the proper skate- parks constructed in the center of the city, Devlin said. Building skateparks such as this one on at 1901 Washington St. adds value to the community by giving kids and adults a public space to try out a new activity and learn the importance of working hard, Devlin said.
also a great place for mentorship and build- ing friendships, even with people from other cities. skatepark to me represents what it takes to work hard and learn how to do something and see yourself pro- Devlin said. have been skating for 27 years and I still progress in some way every time I go Jason Williams said the park is a great start, but he wants to see more accessible parks throughout the city. This way, not only will dads like him feel better about allowing their kids to skate, but more kids will have access to skating. I would love to see happen is that this becomes a he said.
On June 5, the skatepark opened to the public. It would have been Ethan 22nd birthday. It was celebration but, ac- cording to Jason Williams, this park is gift to his Contact IndyStar reporter Madison Smalstig at or 765-7172758. This is the Willard Park Skatepark, seen June 13. The recently-opened skatepark was dedicated to Ethan Williams.
Ethan, who was killed in a shooting in 2020 in New York City, loved skateboarding, literature and other things. PHOTOS BY KELLY Willard Skatepark honors former Indy skater, makes skating more accessible Madison Smalstig Indianapolis Star USA TODAY NETWORK The recently-opened skatepark was dedicated to Ethan Williams. Ethan, who was killed in a shooting in 2020 in New York City, loved skateboarding and literature. One of his favorite books was buried in the cement of this ramp shaped like a book. Also buried in the cement is one of favorite skate tools.
In front of the is a sign with hands that sign William Willard, the namesake of the park, founded the Indiana School for the Deaf. MISHAWAKA Nearly four acres of land in front of Liberty Elementary School are to become the site for the new station in the next cou- ple of years. The city is planning to buy the prop- erty for $1 from the School City of Mishawaka. The buy-sell agreement will come up on Monday before the Re- development Commission. The $1 sale, however, has a real cost to it.
The city will be building a private drive that will serve as a second ac- cess point for student and pick- ups at the school and to the future station at a cost of $900,000. Add to that the cost of the new station that will replace the current small building on North Main Street and the city expects to spend an esti- mated $7.9 million on the project. As it stands, the second drive to the school should help congestion that takes place at the current access on Division Street and Pregel Drive. In remarks to the commission by Ken Prince, director of planning and community development, construc- tion of this drive will begin this sum- mer. The design for Fire Station No.
2 is still in the planning stages, and he said that portion of the project likely would break ground next year. The new central station? A new station on McKinley Ave- nue likely could become the cen- tral facility, Mayor Dave Wood said in his State of the City address. Wood said the new station complex will eventually serve as the central sta- tion because of the number of calls that are made from points north of the location. The station also could serve as the administrative center and could serve as the home for the Survive Alive House. Also, the city has plans to gure the current central station on Union Street as part of a future de- velopment project announced when the city in March agreed to buy the for- mer Foundry property at 500 S.
Union St. Wood said at the time the central station and the roads to and from it would be as part of a fu- ture project. He said an expansion would allevi- ate the limited driveway space where, currently, large trucks have to be backed into the station. A pass- through pattern would improve the situation, he said. The Dodge property project is one the city expects to develop in the fu- ture, and city said it is planned to be addressed in the next years.
The new McKinley Avenue sta- tion would be the since crews moved into the new No. 4 station in January 2013 at Harrison Road and Bennington Drive. The department also has the Douglas Road station that was built in 1993. In a related matter, the city and the school district will consider a memo of understanding to place an electronic reader board sign as part of the sta- tion-private drive project. The Rede- velopment Commission would pro- vide up to $40,000 for the sign to be installed as part of the station con- struction.
The sign is similar to that in front of Mishawaka High School and Twin Branch Elementary School. Email South Bend Tribune reporter Greg Swiercz at nett.com. Site for new location Mishawaka to buy land near Liberty Elementary Greg Swiercz South Bend Tribune USA TODAY NETWORK The city will be building a private drive that will serve as a second access point for student drop-offs and pick-ups at the school and to the future station at a cost of $900,000. JCONLINE.COM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 3A.
