KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – After years of effort, the Kelseyville Community Skatepark opened to enthusiastic young skaters and BMX riders on Wednesday.
Construction on the 9,000-square-foot concrete skatepark, located at the three-acre Kelseyville Community Park at 5270 State St., had begun in May and recently was completed.
It cost $265,000 to build the skatepark, which is the first facility of its kind in the unincorporated county.
Supervisor Rob Brown, who has championed the skatepark, was on hand with other county officials – including Sheriff Brian Martin, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson and Lake County Public Services Department staff – to celebrate the grand opening Wednesday morning.
Brown said the skatepark was a big deal for him as well as the young people who have been waiting for it to open and who had helped work on the park at various times.
“None of this happens with just us or with the kids,” said Brown, crediting parents and other community members for supporting the skatepark's creation, which he said was critical due to the county's lean resources. “So many people have been involved in this.”
He added, “To see something like this happen in this day and age, when resources are so limited for government, it's just unbelievable. It's amazing.”
Brown called the skatepark “an investment” in the community.
He said there had been talk about postponing the grand opening due to the Clayton fire, but ultimately the county decided to move forward, believing a positive event was needed.
And, he added, “The kids have waited a long time for this.”
Once the skatepark was open, it was kept busy throughout its first day, as bikers, skaters and scooters riders tried it out.
The skatepark's opening during this year's Olympics is appropriate, since in four years skateboarding will make its Summer Olympics debut in Tokyo.
Check out the first day's skatepark action in the video above.
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VIDEO: Kelseyville Community Skatepark grand opening celebration held
- Elizabeth Larson
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