Skateparks in heaven

Local Skate-parks are becoming more and more popular these days, especially city and county owned skate-parks. Having the skate-parks run this way makes it much more feasible to maintain and operate as the city can combine all recreation activities in a single park. The cost for these skate-parks can be daunting if your a private owner and would like one in your backyard, no thanks! I remember working in New Mexico and one of the local parks added a skate-park in 2002. The skate-park had everything including mountain views. The new skate-park was built in Tijeres, New Mexico, just East of Albuquerque at a cost of over $100,000. The ramps alone cost $40,000 and were state of the art construction. I was living in New Mexico at the time and working for a local newspaper called the Independent. My job was selling ads for the paper but being such a small paper, I also got to wear many hats, so writing a story on the opening of a skate-park seemed to good to be true. The local riders were great as they helped assemble the ramps for opening day. I don't know if the park is still open today but if you can get to Albuquerque and ride, you are in for a treat as the weather is beautiful most of the year. Except for the windy season in the spring, New Mexico is just what the doctor ordered for a dreary climate as the sun shines almost everyday, (thus, the sunshine state) and mountain views take your breath away virtually anywhere in the state. I hope your community has local parks too and if they don't, you can always go to your city hall and tell them you need one. Just don't give up and be positive with your concerns and you too can have your very own skate-park.

Dale M.