Campaign launched to build sculpture at Valpo skatepark
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A Valparaiso not-for-profit is seeking support for a $45,000 crowdfunding campaign to place a sculpture at the city’s new Flounder & Friends Skatepark.
The Valparaiso Creative Council hopes to meet its goal by Oct. 3. If successful, the city is expected to receive matching funds from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s CreatINg Places program.
Valparaiso’s campaign will support the building, installation and lighting of the proposed sculpture. The city broke ground on the $1.9 million first phase of its Flounder & Friends park in April, our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana reported this spring.
“The Valparaiso Creative Council is honored to feature a local sculptor to enhance the new Flounder & Friends Skatepark,” Valparaiso Creative Council President Stephanie Swearington said in the news release. “Our #ARTinthePARK campaign has allowed us to be creative in our fundraising efforts and we are excited to utilize this unique platform. It is a great way for our supporters to make a larger impact by having their donations doubled through the matching funds.”
The state program provides up to $50,000 in matching funds per project to eligible local government units and nonprofits. Since its beginning in 2016, the CreatINg Places program has provided $7.3 million in matches to more than $8.9 million raised in public funds.
“This proposed sculpture will add beauty and a sense of place to Valparaiso’s new skate park,” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said in a news release. “It is the latest milestone in a project that has been a point of passion in this community, and we are thrilled to see continued investment in the future of Valparaiso.”
More information about Valparaiso’s crowdfunding effort is available by clicking here.