NORMAL - Bobby Kulpa and Street Tribe owner David Gucwa sometimes travel to Chicago and Wisconsin to skateboard on mini ramps and stair sets.

Jeff Knuth routinely takes his grandsons, Jacob, Matthew and Andrew Curry, to Springfield or one of the other 150 skateboard parks throughout the state so they can experience the latest equipment.

Other Twin City skateboard enthusiasts sometimes illegally use the railings and stairs at Illinois State University or in uptown Normal to practice their skills.

All that soon could be unnecessary. The Normal Parks and Recreation Department has plans to upgrade Fairview skateboard park to the tune of about $75,000.

The upgrade will include a new surface, grind rails, a skate bench, a bank-to-bank, a mini half-pipe with bank hip, a launch box and quarter-pipes. Four old pieces also will remain.

"We really need this," said Kulpa, 15, of Normal. "We do want the mini ramp for sure."

Gucwa said the closest mini ramps are at skateboard parks in Decatur or LaSalle-Peru.

"They're really looking forward to this," Gucwa said. "They're really happy with the town's plans."

Knuth said Fairview skateboard park was beginning to show its age. Normal did some repairs, he said, but he's pleased they've taken it a step further.

"I'm really impressed with the way Normal's handled this," Knuth said.

Dozens of Twin City skateboarders were asked to help choose the equipment for the park upgrade and also helped design the layout.

"We had three versions," said Normal Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director Doug Wiggs. At the first of three meetings, the teens were asked what they liked and didn't like and what was missing from the plan.

After a revised plan was created, Wiggs said the group went out to the existing skateboard park to decide where the equipment should be placed. Wiggs also consulted with cross-country bicycle enthusiasts to get their input.

The layout allows both sports to take place at the same time, he said.

Wiggs said the old equipment was loud and hot. The new equipment has a different coating and will give a truer ride, he said. All the pieces are boxed in to help deaden the sound.

The request to make the purchase from the U.S. Community Purchasing Program will go to the City Council on Oct. 15. Wiggs said when it is approved, he will order the equipment and the resurfacing will be started. The area also will get a new drinking fountain, new stairs to the park, a painted fence and new landscaping.