News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Josh Ayers, left, and Jason Piper do some work on one of the ramps at the skate park in Alpena on Wednesday. The park has been closed since July because it had become unsafe to use.

ALPENA — Renovations to the skate park on 9th Avenue in Alpena are underway and, soon, skateboarders can return to using it.

The park was closed last July to protect users. Alpena officials said at the time the ramps at the park had become unsafe because they had deteriorated badly and people could injure themselves.

The park has sat dormant since.

It is not clear when the work will be completed or when the park will reopen to the public, Assistant City Engineer Charlie Kendziorski said.

The news of the closure didn’t sit well with many residents at the time and a campaign to update the park with concrete ramps and make it more appealing for local youth quickly began.

A petition pertaining to the project was posted on Change.org, an online petition platform. The petition to reconsider the design of the skate park from wood to concrete has been signed by more than 1,500 supporters so far.

Campaign organizer Isaac Boda said the skate park is a vital amenity for local youth and he believes the kids deserve a facility that’s fun and safe, but also able to endure the wear and tear of Northeast Michigan’s weather.

He said a concrete park would be more durable and allow for scooters to be used on the park’s ramps.

The city, however, has decided to not include concrete in renovations. Instead, officials are using a durable and flexible composite material that should breathe new life into the facility and help prevent injuries.

Kendziorski said the material being installed at the park is used by high-profile skateboarders like Tony Hawk when they build skate parks.

The skate park was born from an effort between a skateboarding and in-line skating group, residents, and the city.

The park has been a hit for children and teens since it was constructed in 2006. The park features 15,000 square feet of surface, with 14 ramps and elements, including rails, boxes, and a half-pipe.

No bikes are allowed in the skate park, but there is a bike park at Mich-e-ke-wis Park on State Avenue near the beach for people to use.