Skate park on a roll
If you call a project phase one, that pretty much means there will be a phase two.
The Spokane Valley YMCA Skate Park is in just such a position, especially considering the popularity of phase one.
“It’s been really popular since it opened,” the YMCA’s Jordan Holland said. “We have kids lining up and waiting for us when we open up at noon, and we have to push them out the gate when we close.”
That kind of success allows the park to do two things.
First, it will sponsor Skatefest 2005, a three-day skateboard competition Aug. 12-14 that will feature age-group competition, along with music, food and prizes for everyone.
“We’ll have an 8-and-under division and go up through 18-and-under, as well as an open division for factory-sponsored riders,” Holland said. “We don’t have any real big-name riders in this area, but we do have some factory-sponsored riders and some shop-sponsored riders.”
Second, it allows the park to launch its second of three phases.
“We haven’t really decided what we want to do with phase two,” Holland said. “Ultimately, the plan is to make this the premier skate park in the country and the largest skate park in North America.”
Phase two can go in one of two directions. It can add onto what has already been built, or go in a different direction and erect an indoor facility for yearround skating and competition. Phase three is another concrete section similar to phase one.
“We still haven’t decided which direction we want to go yet,” Holland said. “We’re going to have copies of both plans available for people to look at during Skatefest. Skatefest is kind of the kick-off for the fund-raising part of phase two.”
The cost of phase two will vary depending on which direction the park goes.
“It will cost a little bit more to do the indoor facility, but we’re looking at having to raise $1 million,” Holland said. “That sounds like a big number, but I think it’s possible once enough people learn what it is we want to do.”
The decision is up to a commission.
“The skate park commission meets every week to discuss the park, the plans for its future and the rules that govern it,” Holland said. “Most of the guys on that commission are high school kids. This whole thing started as a school project and the plans for the skate park were drawn up even before the YMCA was built.”
Now that the park is open, Holland said, it should be easier to raise money for expansion.
“People can see what we’re talking about,” he said. “They see the impact it has on the community. Every day I have parents come up to me and tell me how much they appreciate the park. This is the only supervised park we have in the area, so we don’t have a lot of the problems other parks face. We don’t have a problem with drugs and cussing and other things parents don’t want their grade-school kids exposed to.”
What has made the skate park a success has been the personal investment of park patrons.
“We have a core group of regulars who have really taken on a feeling of ownership of the park,” Holland said. “They come every day. They came every day last year and have come every day this year. They do a great job of policing the area and talking to other kids when they get too rowdy. They protect the park and help enforce the rules. It’s become their park, and they don’t want to see anything happen to it.”
Skatefest 2005 will include a number of competitions, including a best trick competition Aug. 13. Registration opens Aug. 12, and skateboarders will have a chance to practice that day.
“We’ve arranged for prizes,” Holland explained. “The winner of each division will receive skateboarding shoes and sunglasses.
“We’re going to have lots of food and live bands there during the day. We have a space for skateboard shops there to show off what they have. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”