Northville’s Unity Skate Park taking shape as grand opening approaches
United Skate Park is located at 45769 Six MIle Road in Northville.
The Northville community’s first state-of-the-art skateboard park — built to honor the memory of township resident Dominic Duhn — is on the verge of opening.
A May 4 grand opening celebration is scheduled, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for noon that day followed by a beer festival that will help raise funds for Skateboard to Success, an organization that will provide skateboards and lessons to underprivileged and at-risk kids.
The grassroots skateboard project evolved after Duhn died in a hit-and-run incident while skateboarding.
In the wake of Dominic’s tragic death, the Duhn family launched The Dominic Duhn Foundation, Inc., funds from which have been contributed to Northville Township to develop and construct Unity Skate Park, which is located in Millennium Park on Six Mile Road, just south of Northville High School.
“This project started off to honor our son, Dominic, and then quickly expanded into helping our youth with all the positive benefits skateboarding offers,” said Gabriella Duhn, Dominic’s mother and champion of this project.
“The outpouring of endorsements and financial support from the community and beyond to make this project a reality is so greatly appreciated and will forever be remembered.”
Special place
The size of the skatepark, which is projected to cost approximately $600,000, will be about 12,000 square feet.
Northville Township has committed $150,000 to the project, along with $83,327 it receives from the Wayne County Parks millage allocation.
The City of Northville has committed $8,123 from its Wayne County Parks millage allocation. The balance of $359,000 was raised through various supporters and fundraisers hosted by the Duhn family and a 501(c)(3) Foundation.
The May 4 day of celebration will be filled with craft beers, bands, food trucks, and, of course, great skateboarders performing on the beautiful 12,000-square-foot Unity skatepark. Click here to purchase your tickets!
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
