SEASIDE – I have often reflected on the popularity of the seaside Skate n Ride Park, it seems like there is always a crowd there if the weather permits.

I have seen the cement dripping wet after a rain shower with not a soul in sight, only to walk by ten minutes later and see 20 kids out there skating as the pavement is drying. That phenomena never ceases to amaze me, as does the sheer number of kids in the park on a really busy day. That leads me to suggest that the skate park just might be the MVP or most valuable park in the Seaside area, its certainly the most used at any one time.

Many residents will probably remember Wally World, the Skate n Rides predecessor that used to be housed in a large, blue, corrugated metal building located directly behind the pool. It was still in operation when I first came to the district as a volunteer in the early 2000s. Wally World was closed and dismantled in 2002 due to issues around safety and security. Its age and location presented some challenges for the district, mainly in its location, which often made it difficult to monitor and police. The space that was once Wally World is now a flourishing community garden.

In early 2005, a group of local skaters from the area coalesced under the guidance of Angela Fairless to form a committee dedicated to advocating for the construction of a concrete skate park. The committee attended city council meetings, rallied city residents and started raising money through car washes and bake sales to put toward the construction of the park. The kids also sold ceramic tiles to raise money for the project, which are now proudly displayed on the parks south facing exterior wall.

The committees biggest coup détat came about when the district joined forces with the City of Seaside in writing a grant to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). Several of the committee members, along with city and district representatives presented the project to the OPRD Grant Committee in the hopes that they saw as much value in the project as the kids presenting it did. The OPRD awarded the $300,000 grant to the City of Seaside in 2006 and the project took off.

Construction of the new park began in the fall of 2006 and involved 9 months of grueling concrete work to complete. A temporary wooden half pipe was built earlier that summer as local skaters excitement for the project began to build and the dream of having their own place to ride was coming to fruition. Built by Stefan Hauser and his company Placed to Ride, Inc., the Seaside Skate n Ride Park began a grass roots community effort. In fact, many members of the construction crew were either Seaside skaters or crew members that had children who skated, driving the effort to finish the project and making it just that much more personal. The park was officially opened on Saturday, June 9, 2007.

The skate park is more than just a place for our youth to play and spend time, it is a reminder of what we are all capable of achieving when we truly commit ourselves to a goal, just like these kids did. Their hard work and commitment has left a lasting legacy for generations of young skaters to come.

Darrel Gooch works at the Sunset Empire Parks and Recreation District and can be reached at (503) 738-7393 EXT. 3

Look for this column throughout the summer and fall months for great recreational ideas and opportunities to come and P.L.A.Y. (Positive Leisure Activities for You) with us at the Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District!

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