Let's roll!
Coeur d’Alene’s new skate park combines the flow of a 1970s-style skate park with modern touches, said North Idaho Skate Park Association member Jason Olsen on Friday. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
JUDD WILSON/Press Richie Conklin of Evergreen Skateparks works on concrete at the new Coeur d’Alene Skate Park on Friday.
MARK ADDY/Maximum Exposure Photography Work continues Friday morning on the new skate park under construction near Memorial Field in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The park’s grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 6. This drone photo was taken by Mark Addy of Maximum Exposure Photography Cd’A.
By JUDD WILSON
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — If it skates, rolls, scoots, or bikes, the new Coeur d’Alene skate park at Garden Avenue and Northwest Boulevard is going to be the place to be when it opens Oct. 6.
North Idaho Skate Park Association member Jason Olsen explained Friday that the 14,000-square-foot park is geared toward many different uses, and across generational lines.
“Skateboards, bikes, rollerblades, and scooters can utilize this park,” he said.
It’s designed for healthy, alternative youth activities including but not limited to skateboarding. It was also designed with event hosting in mind so not only recreational users but groups from churches, clubs, and schools can use it, he said.
Though it might cramp the style of hard-core skateboarders to have to share the space, Olsen said each age group and experience level tends to find its own best time to use skate parks. The more people who use it, the better, he said.
The new skate park was also designed by those who want to pass on their love of skateboarding to new generations. The North Idaho Skate Park Association formed as a group of older skateboarders, many of whom are business owners and parents who still enjoy skateboarding.
The previous skate park was done in a piecemeal fashion and not well integrated, said Olsen. Skate parks in surrounding smaller communities put it to shame, he said.
On the contrary, the new skate park was designed with perpetual motion in mind. It’s a combination of old-school skateboarding from the 1970s and newer features in the sport.
Though based on rebellion against authority, Olsen said skateboarding teaches life lessons to youngsters such as the importance of paying attention. You can’t just float along when the concrete comes a-calling.
Skateboarding is also great because it’s an activity that youth and adults, strangers and old friends, can enjoy together.
“Anytime you go to a skate park somewhere, you will find like-minded people,” said Olsen. “That’s pretty cool.”
Olsen said skateboarding’s subculture “ties in well with the mainstream community here.”
NISPA’s board members grew up in the days when skateboarding was frowned upon by official types. Consequently, Olsen said he was blown away when NISPA approached city officials with the skate park proposal and was met with cooperation and support.
“It was an eye-opening process dealing with the city. They were very accepting,” Olsen said.
It’s thanks to the city and ignite cda that the dream is becoming a reality, he said. “These guys were really the put-the-rubber-to-the-road guys,” he said.
The Oct. 6 grand opening starts at 10 a.m. and will last until dusk. Food trucks, vendors, live punk music, and pro skateboarder Mike Vallely will be on hand to mark the occasion.
To learn more about the North Idaho Skate Park Association, go to cdask8prk.com, facebook.com/cdask8prk, or instagram.com/cdask8prk.