Every week I swing by the #NewAlbanyFlowPark to see the progress. I've been working on getting the 1st #PublicArt #skatepark in our region built for the past 4+ years, and now it's finally happening. Figured a thread documenting over time would be fun. Updates ongoing!
2015: This is what the original #skatepark looked like before we started. Built in mid/late 1990s, its best days were behind it. It has held up well given its history of flooding and age, but there were design issues and crumbling features that made it outdated and unsafe. 
April 29, 2017: @CCAH_NA & #HungerSkateparks held a series of meetings and a "Skate and Create" event to gather public input to find out what kinds of features and ideas our community would like. Highly admired local skater, Matt Brewer, was there from the start. #LiveLikeMatt
Spring 2017: We received dozens of submissions from the community. Digital files, drawings, clay models...Carnegie Center staff and Hunger Skateparks went through all of them to find common themes and reoccurring requests of specific features.
Summer/Fall 2017: An overwhelming number of submissions related to the Ohio River (naturally given the park's location). Hunger Skateparks created a design for a beautiful, flowing, functioning work of public art incorporating many of the forms submitted by the public.
2017-19: Working with the City of @NewAlbanyIN and Mayor Jeff Gahan, we were able to find funding for the $500k project. Special thanks to @GoSoIN, Carnegie Center, Inc., @DevelopNA47150, @Humana Foundation, @CFofSI, @DukeEnergy, @HorseshoeSI Foundation, and @SamtecInc Cares.
July 10/11, 2019: With funding in place, demo of the park begins!
July 15, 2019: Ruble cleared out, and a meeting of the minds on site with @CCAH_NA and Hunger Skateparks.
August 30, 2019: Gravel brought in for grading.
September 6, 2019: Gravel graded for the flats, mid-section elevation change and west side quarter foundation in place, setting up the construction site.
September 13, 2019: View from the overlook in relation to the amphitheater. First feature form (serpent feature on west end) getting built.
September 19, 2019: The first half (north east) of the serpent feature has been poured. Second half of serpent feature framework built and ready to pour.
September 27, 2019: West side features poured. 3 color processes going on...color being added into the concrete as it gets mixed, then color is thrown on to the wet concrete after it has been poured, and finally it gets stained after the concrete cures.
October 3, 2019: Beautiful day for a view from the overlook. Geese pay a visit.
October 3, 2019 (continued): Steamboat, Ohio River Bridges flat (with compass stamped in it), and Cahokia Pyramid framework getting started.
October 5 & 9, 2019: Traffic jam on I-64 East allowed me to snap a few pics of the #NewAlbanyFlowPark from the Sherman Minton Bridge. You'll be able to see the Eastern half of the #skatepark from the left lane of the highway. This morning was foggy and provided a moody backdrop.
October 9, 2019 (continued): #HungerSkateparks taking a few days off while #NewAlbany parties for #HarvestHomecoming. This gave me a chance to check out some of the details. You can really see the colors coming out as the concrete cures...Blue, green, sienna, gray.
#PublicArt
#PublicArt
October 16, 2019: Video to show the general landscape of the area the #NewAlbanyFlowPark is a part of for those not from this area. Shot from on top of the flood wall, you can see the Amphitheater, New Albany, the YMCA, I-64 bridge, and the Ohio River.
October 16, 2019 (continued): another video from the flood wall. Panning across the Ohio River, I-64 (Sherman Minton Bridge), and zooming in on the #NewAlbanyFlowPark.
October 18, 2019: Just a few shots of the progressing serpent mounds, and a shot of #HungerSkateparks Bart holding one of the catfish plywood templates.
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
October 25, 2019: Nearly half the concrete has been poured. The trademark New Albany Pyramid 2.0 has been reborn, and bridge rails built by #RockerBuilt Studios have arrived.
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
November 1, 2019: Serpent head emerges, flashes its fangs. Wake bump up to the steamboat added to the design.
November 8, 2019: Very crisp Nov. morning at the #NewAlbanyFlowPark. The #HungerSkateparks crew have added a layer of color stain onto the serpent feature, and started working on the upper to lower elevation transfer. You can also get a good look at the serpent's fangs now.
November 15, 2019: Schedule conflict kept me from being able to come down to the #NewAlbanyFlowPark this morning, but I stumbled on a good time to visit this afternoon when the cement truck was on location pouring a beautiful, wet mess.
This was the third truck today.
This was the third truck today.
November 15, 2019 (continued): Hitting the homestretch as work develops on the lower elevation of the park. Bridge-inspired rails going in. A pole jam and rainbow rail also got added that wasn't originally a part of the design (bonus!).
November 15, 2020 (continued): The Modernist River Run getting built. Wasn't able to get back very far for a good shot, but you can see the special brown and aggregate coloring and stamped pattern on top of it. Catfish are starting to appear.
#HungerSkateparks crew working it.
#HungerSkateparks crew working it.
November 20, 2019: #NewAlbanyFlowPark 🌈 arch form getting started!
PSA, the park has sustained damage by excited riders using it before it's ready. Please wait until it's completed before riding so we don't have to spend more time and money making repairs before it opens.
PSA, the park has sustained damage by excited riders using it before it's ready. Please wait until it's completed before riding so we don't have to spend more time and money making repairs before it opens.
November 21, 2019: BIG day at the #NewAlbanyFlowPark today, so I'm going to just drop a bunch of pics.
November 21, 2019 (continued): I think I've shared most of these features already, but I just liked the shots. The two port windows in the steamboat feature look like 🦉 eyes with the right angle and light.
November 21, 2019 (cont'd): Rainbow arch getting built!!!
November 21, 2019 (cont'd): Look at that beautiful concrete
November 21, 2019 (cont'd): Makes you want to move.
November 21, 2019 (cont'd): More pics
November 21, 2019 (cont'd): More video
November 21, 2019 (cont'd): I love these photos, really dramatic. In the first one, you can see the flock of geese that have been hanging out by the park lately just to the right of the arch flying away. In the last, you can see a wad of concrete getting tossed up to Bart.
November 21, 2019 (cont'd): video showing them doing some finishing work, and you can catch them tossing the concrete wads up to Bart.
November 25, 2019: The 🌈 arch concrete pour complete (more work to do on the backside, though). #NewAlbanyFlowPark
November 25, 2019: All the concrete for the main part of the park is nearing an end. #HungerSkateparks have been doing such an amazing job on the #NewAlbanyFlowPark. World class.
December 4, 2019: All concrete has been poured at the #NewAlbanyFlowPark. All that's left from #HungerSkatepark crew is detail work, color, clean up, etc.
December 4, 2019 (continued): A closer look at some of the features.
December 4, 2019 (continued): enjoy the view.
December 11, 2019: The park is nearly, functionally complete, so there aren't many pictures to take updating progress on it. Expect an announcement to come soon about the #NewAlbanyFlowPark officially opening.
A BIG THANK YOU to our community leaders for their trust, vision, and support. This isn't possible w/o Mayor Jeff Gahan and the City of @NewAlbanyIN, @GoSoIN, @CCAH_NA, @DevelopNA47150, @Humana Foundation, @CFofSI, @DukeEnergy, @HorseshoeSI Foundation, & @SamtecInc Cares.👏🤜🤛💪
There will be more work to be done on it next year after temperatures warm back up, but it will at least be open and ridable before then. So, until something new comes up, I am going to share a documented collection of news media articles/mentions/broadcasts.
First sources have to be the @CCAH_NA website and #HungerSkateparks website. They aren't news media, but they are primary sources.
carnegiecenter.org/publicart/new-…
hungerskateparks.com/portfolio/new-…
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
carnegiecenter.org/publicart/new-…
hungerskateparks.com/portfolio/new-…
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
November 18, 2016 | @newsandtribune :
newsandtribune.com/news/from-eyes…
First article, on front page no less!
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
newsandtribune.com/news/from-eyes…
First article, on front page no less!
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
July 10, 2019 | Indiana Economic Digest:
indianaeconomicdigest.com/MobileContent/…
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
indianaeconomicdigest.com/MobileContent/…
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
December 6, 2019 | @newsandtribune :
newsandtribune.com/news/new-alban…
Front page, above the fold!
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
newsandtribune.com/news/new-alban…
Front page, above the fold!
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
@wave3news December 3, 2019 | True Sk8board Mag:
truesk8boardmag.com/new-albany-flo…
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
truesk8boardmag.com/new-albany-flo…
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
December 16, 2019: Final walk through of the #NewAlbanyFlowPark with Bart from #HungerSkateparks. Dreary day, but beautiful park. Announced opening day coming very soon!
December 16, 2019 (cont'd): getting a few more detail shots in with the wetness. The wet does bring out a little more of the color.
I can't believe it's finally here. I have literally shed blood, sweat, and tears over this park over the past 4+ years. This is a very special day for me, and I can't even express the love I'm feeling. So thankful to be a part of such a thoughtful, supportive, & caring community.
Though the park opened today, I won't stop updates here just yet. There will still be more work to be done in the Spring, plus a big party to celebrate come warmer weather.
In the meantime, I'll share a few photos of people using the park, like these I took of my son.
In the meantime, I'll share a few photos of people using the park, like these I took of my son.
December 20, 2019: News about the #NewAlbanyFlowPark picked up by local news stations. From @WLKY:
wlky.com/article/new-al…
wlky.com/article/new-al…
December 20, 2019: News about the #NewAlbanyFlowPark picked up by local news stations. From @WDRBNews:
wdrb.com/news/new-alban…
wdrb.com/news/new-alban…
December 20, 2019: News about the #NewAlbanyFlowPark picked up by local news stations. From @wave3news:
wave3.com/2019/12/20/new…
wave3.com/2019/12/20/new…
December 20, 2019: News and Tribune:
newsandtribune.com/news/new-alban…
newsandtribune.com/news/new-alban…
December 21, 2019: A little roll through the park. It's been a huge success, hundreds of visitors over the past couple of days since it's announced opening. I get teary eyes watching everyone enjoying it.
December 23, 2019: I got the #NewAlbanyFlowPark recognized as an official spot on @googlemaps. Now anyone can find the location and directions by searching New Albany Flow Park on there. Very valuable since there's no physical address. Now I need to do the same w/ Apple maps.
December 27, 2019: I made it on the news today, oh boy.
.
New Albany Flow Park opens in time for perfect weather whas11.com/mobile/article… via @WHAS11
.
New Albany Flow Park opens in time for perfect weather whas11.com/mobile/article… via @WHAS11
@IUSoutheast newspaper @iushorizon published a great article on the #NewAlbanyFlowPark.
🙌🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🙌
iushorizon.com/24546/features…
🙌🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🙌
iushorizon.com/24546/features…
February 17, 2020: Stopped by the #NewAlbanyFlowPark today to check out its first flooding event.
Apparently a couple of geese had the same idea I had.
Apparently a couple of geese had the same idea I had.
May 23, 2020: Hunger Skateparks came back to do some finishing touches, details, tie up loose ends, etc. Most will go unnoticed, but I'm excited they were able to finally add color to the rainbow feature!
Pictured: Bart + Christie w/ Hunger (& me)
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
#Skatepark
Pictured: Bart + Christie w/ Hunger (& me)
#NewAlbanyFlowPark
#Skatepark
May 25, 2020: #HungerSkateparks sent me these images of the #NewAlbanyFlowPark. Taken just as they finished up the last of the details on the park. If this isn't a sign, I don't know what is. 🌈💥❤️
@threadreaderapp unroll please.
