The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has agreed to transfer a coveted piece of land to the city of Greenfield as it attempts to revive The Turf, a beloved and historic skatepark that existed along Interstate 43 in the 1980s and ‘90s.

A resolution approving the $1 sale of the two-acre lot along the 4200 block of West Loomis Road was added last minute to the Greenfield Common Council’s Oct. 15 meeting. It was approved unanimously.

Acquiring the land represents a major victory for a generation of local skateboarders who have long dreamed of bringing back The Turf in some form, especially because the bowls that made the park famous still exist on the parcel, but buried under gravel.

And it’s also the first step in a plan by the city and private stakeholders to bring not just a destination skatepark to the area, but further commercial development as well.

“It’s awesome, I want to thank the folks at the DOT,” said Mayor Mike Neitzke of the Department of Transportation’s offer. “Sometimes the planets line up, good things happen. It’s an exciting thing to have the sacred ground of The Turf be turned into a park.”

Opened in 1979 by entrepreneur Jerry Steuernagel, The Turf became one of the most popular parks in the country, attracting skaters from both coasts and famous names like Tony Hawk. It is regarded by some as an iconic park in the sport’s history.

Although the park folded in 1996, its famous skating bowls were never destroyed, even though a warehouse operated on the land for a time and the DOT in 2010 used it as a staging ground for nearby construction that has long since finished.

Local skaters have been so eager to access the bowls that a group of them entered the property in 2010 and attempted to dig them out.

The city has partnered with the 27th Street Business District Association to build a modern, indoor-outdoor skatepark that would become a national attraction and pays homage to The Turf. They hope to restore and include the original bowls, but their condition remains unknown.

Organizers are also hoping to further develop the area by adding a hotel and more commercial space nearby.

Tara Cavazos, the executive director of the business district, said acquiring the land allows the group of stakeholders to focus on designs, cost estimates and fundraising.

“It’s kind of like our trigger,” she said of acquiring the land. “It feels great. I’m so excited.”

She said the project has already received a small amount of donations through the business district’s website even though a formal fundraising campaign hasn’t launched.

Neitzke has said that he believes the park could be built without taxpayer funds and still operate with free admission. He said the city has consulted with the Tony Hawk Foundation, which helps communities build skateparks.

Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.