Battleground is a real skatepark. Concrete, plywood, metal and noise, in a mall in Battle Creek, run by people who happen to have faith and who decided nobody should be turned away at the door.
All are welcome regardless of age, race, religion, identity or gender. We believe everyone has intrinsic value and should be treated with dignity and respect.
Battleground Skate House & Youth Center Inc. is a non-profit action sports youth center. Established 2013. That sentence above is the whole policy. There is no second, quieter version of it.
We each have the potential to give love and hope. All of us also have hurts, bad habits and things that trip us up. This is the work, in the order we think about it.
01
Learning to work with our physical strengths and limitations to achieve what seemed impossible, whether on the ramps or anywhere we go.
02
Becoming part of a community where we can be encouraged and encourage others towards positive choices and greatness.
03
Being honest and humble enough to recognise our need for Truth and Love from the God who made us.
We have weekly Skate Church and big events from time to time, and we love for you to come to those. What matters more are the choices you make every day. Staff and volunteers are here to help however we can.
Tuesday at 6pm the ramps shut down for about 45 minutes. Someone from the community shares a testimony or a passage from the Bible. We have had pro skaters, community leaders, business professionals, former addicts, teachers and kids do it.
Towards the end we break into small groups and talk about it. Everyone is encouraged to say what they think, including if they disagree. Nobody is obligated to share or participate. You are welcome to just sit and listen if you would rather.
How a Tuesday goesA staff member is present monitoring the park whenever we are open. These are the ones you will meet.
Park Manager
A professional skateboarder. He has worked with Youth for Christ in Duluth, Lake Owen Action Sports Camp in Wisconsin, and YWAM skate ministry in Australia, where with Pure Parks he visited over 200 skateparks to clean them, give out bibles and skate with kids.
Enjoys polar plunges. Would rather eat cereal than steak most days. Once rode his mountain bike 270 miles in two days just to see his wife. Has ridden his skateboard on four continents.
Park Manager
A youth leader at churches and camps, including a horse camp. She has taught reading and maths to struggling kindergartners and is a teacher to her three children. Her family has been involved with Battleground for several years and her husband has served on the board.
Loves podcasts like Someone Knows Something. Will not wear navy and black together because she does not want to look like a bruise.
Skate Instructor
An experienced skater and instructor from Kalamazoo. Twenty years skating, six years teaching. He has a Fine Arts degree from WMU and an incredible memory for detail. He enjoys working with beginners who have never stepped on a board.
Makes instrumental tracks and indie alternative music. Has broken both ankles, both wrists, and has two fake teeth.
When you or your parent signs the waiver, you agree to follow these. They exist so the park stays safe when it is busy, which is most of the time it is open.
While at the Battleground skate park I will be respectful to all staff members, volunteers and other participants, refraining from:
All participants 17 and under must keep their helmet on and clipped in the park. Helmets are recommended for everyone.
Mall security can ban you from the mall for riding anywhere other than the park. Not us. Them. Please do not test it.
Failure to follow park or mall procedures may result in removal from the park. Or Matt might feed you to the zamboni.
Free admission is a decision, not an accident. It is funded by people who give, and staffed in part by people who volunteer. If either of those is you, here is where to start.
