No snow? No problem! Year-round outdoor winter sports coming to Mishawaka
MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- No snow? No problem!
Year-round winter sports are coming to Mishawaka's George Wilson Park!
Tubing, skiing, and snowboarding will be possible even in the summer months thanks to the technology of Neveplast: synthetic slopes that mimic a slick, snowy surface.
"This innovative technology will allow residents and visitors to enjoy tubing, skiing, and snowboarding regardless of the weather outside," explains Phil Blasko, Superintendent of Mishawaka Parks & Recreation.
In 2027, George Wilson Park will be complete with four year-round tubing lanes and two specialized skiing and snowboarding lanes that fit for any skill level.
"It'll have jumps and grinds and rails for the more advanced skiers or snowboarders," says Blasko.
The park will also have what's called a 'magic carpet'; a lift mechanism that'll bring you from the bottom of the hill to the top, also increasing accessibility.
"There will be no more having to walk up the hill to get to the top of the hill," Blasko says.
Included in the upgrades are a brand-new heated restroom facility, concession stand, and ticket window.
It's all being paid for through a $1.5 million dollar grant from the Saint Joseph County Hotel Motel Tax Board and Visit South Bend Mishawaka.
Because there is nothing like this within a twelve-hour radius of Michiana, the project is sure to put Mishawaka and St. Joseph County on the map for outside visitors.
"We're giving them another reason to come," says Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka. "We think this could draw that population, that audience and those that maybe have never been here before who want to come and see and experience something new, something different, something that's innovative."
Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood says the project also solves a problem the city often faces with this particular park, it's hard to utilize in the summer months and even the winter sometimes.
"Of course, winter is when we're at peak, and we've seen throughout the last few winters, not this one, that we're limited sometimes in the snow we get," explains Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood. "Now, we can program this park year-round.
Not only does it introduce a more affordable way to learn a new sport in the Princess City, as Mayor Wood hopes, it could even be the reason a local kid fulfills an Olympic dream.
"You can be a Mishawaka resident, go out in the middle of July or August and snowboard and maybe that sparks an interest or lights a fire," says Mayor Wood. "Maybe that kid who can go and participate in this affordable activity, maybe that changes his future."
George Wilson Park is popular for disc golf, and the course will undergo notable improvements as well.