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Skateboarding is no longer a crime — at least not if you’re at Shady Lane Skate Park. After years of harassment about where skateboarders can skate, a private skateboarding park has opened.
“I just built it ( the skate park) because I thought the kids might like a place to skateboard,” said owner Mike Barrett.
A Kalispell city ordinance states that skateboarders can’t practice on roads or streets, in parking lots owned by the city, or on public or private property with signs posted prohibiting skateboarding.
“None of us care about skateboarders, really,” said Kalispell Sergeant Dan Bourne. “If they’d follow the ordinance, they wouldn’t be a problem.”
The new Shady Lane building was built by Brendan Rohann, owner of the Whitefish Skateboarding Grant Company. Construction started in May and ended in June. Some of the features are the pyramid, a quarter pipe, a half pipe with a six-foot extension, and ‘the kicker,’ which is a quarter pipe that goes over a bank to a flat surface. ‘The kicker’ is only set up on Thursdays.
“The ramps are built really nice and the transitions are really good,” said sophomore Dylan Schleifer.
The park is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
A year-long membership for the park is $25, and single visits are $6.
“I think the skate park’s great,” said junior Nick Chaffey. “But it’s a tad bit expensive.”
According to junior Mark Delorme, everything in the skate park is well constructed and people are really enjoying it.
“It’s a pretty open place,” said Delorme. “It’s fun skating there and the floors are really nice.”
Though students are enjoying the park, some are hoping the park will open more often. Principal Gary Martin agrees.
“I hope it (the park) will be open more days a week for the students,” said Martin.
Skateboarding at school has become a safety issue because wax from the wheels of their boards rubs off on the stairs become slippery. Some other problem spots are by the gym and on the south side of the building.
“Skateboarding isn’t the problem, but from the school’s point of view, we can’t be a nuisance,” said Martin. Residents of the area around the school have complained about students skating on and around their property.
Martin said he has no problems with the “sadly unrecognized” sport of skateboarding. He believes it is a good activity for students to get involved in.
“Anything students can be doing as an exercise to refine skills is good and positive,” said Martin.
The skateboarding park may fulfill its purpose and keep students off the streets and people’s property, while allowing them to enjoy themselves year round.
“Now we have someplace to skate during the winter,” said junior Tanner Swanson. |
