Wenatchee Skate Park

Allowing BMX bicycles at Wenatchee Skate Park Petition!

BMX Rider Organization -B.R.O.

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***** NEWS of Wenatchee`s Skate Park! *****

*** Wenatchee Skate Park To Upgrade + BMX *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 03/05/2008 Plans aplenty for Pioneer Park. Photo - Lucus Schley, 13, of Wenatchee rides his skateboard at Pioneer Park while a meeting goes on Tuesday at Pioneer Middle School on possible improvements to the Pioneer Park complex. Schley and his friends Jose Maravilla, 15, and Evan Eichler, 14, would like to see the skate park expanded, adding stairs and smaller ramps for people who aren't very good skate boarders. They would also like to have the size increased so bikers could use the area. ( MORE )

*** Mother Asks For Safety Controls At Skate Park *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 08/07/2007 The mother of a 13-year-old boy who suffered traumatic injuries in what a city official has called the "most severe situation involving injuries" at Wenatchee Skate Park in 10 years is asking for tighter safety regulations at the park. Michael Benitez was about to ride his BMX bicycle into the bowl portion of the park Friday night when a tire got caught and he fell backward off the bike, landing on the ground head first. He was not wearing a helmet. -- For The Rest Of The Quoted Story See: Re: Mother Asks For Safety Controls At Wenatchee Skate Park Gene`s BMX has posted a Quote Reply to this news story. Via on Forums URL Link, Contributors are Welcome.

*** 5th Anniversary Skateboard Contest *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 05/21/2007 On June 9th, 2007 at Pioneer Park Registration at 10:00am & Contest at 11:00am Cost is $15.00 includes tee and lunch Contest Catergories: 11&under, 12-14, 15-17, 18&over and Best Trick Contest. Must have current Liability Release Signed. Must have Guardian Signature if under 18 yrs.old Come join us for a good time, with tons of prizes, bands and yummy food. More Information - http://www.revolutionsnowandskate.com

*** Wenatchee Skate Park Skate Contest? *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 09/02/2006 A Skate Contest set for Wenatchee but little info to share about it, Here is all I know about the event. ----- Back to School Skate Contest Where: Pioneer Skate Park When: September 10, 2006 Cost: $15 entry fee includes lunch and Revolution t-shrit Registration starts at 10:00 am & Contest starts at 11:00am Live Bands, BBQ ad Good Times ----- I just thought I would pass this on to everyone. Sorry I don`t know more info but heck its something happing in Wenatchee and for that, there is not much. Enjoy,

*** Skate Competition Stokes Memories *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 06/12/2006 Casey Cooper, 21, starts to say that it’s been seven years that he’s been skating. Matt Pryor, however, interrupts to correct him, saying it’s been longer than that and that he’s the one that got Cooper to test out the Wenatchee Skate Park when the pair were students at Pioneer Middle School. On Sunday, both would put try to put their best tricks on display at the park, where 22 skate boarders as young as 5 each took their turn trying to impress judges and each other at a competition/barbecue/general hang-out organized by Revolution Snow & Skate shop,a Wenatchee business. “I always look forward to it,” said Pryor, 21, adding that he’s been to each of the competitions since they began, twice-yearly, in May of 2003. So has Joey McGuire, 29, owner of Revolution and event organizer, who said he knew pretty much everyone there. “I’ve seen most of them start skating,” McGuire said, calling it “amazing” how much improvement some of the skaters have shown. McGuire said he was one of the original Wenatchee skateboarders who petitioned city leaders and raised money to help build the park, which opened in 1997. When he started his shop — which features an indoor skate park — four years ago he said he always wanted to help organize events like this. He hands off the judging duties to others, but McGuire works the microphone as each of the skaters tries to make the most of their one minute of allotted time. In his commentary, McGuire’s familiarity with the competitors shines through. “He’s been at this park before,” McGuire began. “I’ve actually seen Matt throw his shoe across the park,” he says while Pryor is making his run, praising him for his current level of maturity. Pryor, like nearly all the skateboarders, had his share of falls. The competition part of the event, however is decidedly low-key. McGuire said everyone would get a T-shirt and lunch off the grill, with free decks (boards without wheels) and skateboard hardware reserved for the top finishers. Each competitor pays $15 to participate, but McGuire says the event isn’t about money. “It’s promotion for the shop...and good for the kids,” McGuire said, adding that he’d be “more than happy” if the event broke even. As the skaters took their turns, the crowd — which numbered about 100, mostly teens with a smattering of parental-types — applauded politely. When 10-year -old Matt Penny — winner of the 12-and-under class — powered over a ridge into a steep bowl in one corner of the park, the crowd burst into spontaneous applause. Barry Pocan, 17, winner of the 13 to 17 age category and named by several other boarders as the most impressive skater, said he started out by trying to imitate older skateboarders. The skateboarding community is pretty tightknit, said 30-year-old Mike Blair of Leavenworth, the oldest competitor in the field, with the Wenatchee Skate Park a big key to the community. “I’d say at least half are locals to this park,” Blair said. Among skaters the same age — the biggest group in the competitions were 13- to 17-year-olds – there is a natural camaraderie. 16-year-old Jordan Caudill talked about how he was given a deck by 17-year-old Alf Baird. McGuire talked about how the park could use an upgrade to smooth out some of the rough spots. “This thing is getting pretty aged and antiquated,” McGuire said. But Baird praised McGuire as an important part of the skateboarding community. “Joey is the man....he’s why we have a skating scene here,” Baird said.

*** Wenatchee Indoor Skatepark Opens *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 11/08/2005 Skateboarders won’t go without when the snow flies now that Revolution Snow & Skate shop, 246 N. Wenatchee Ave. has opened its indoor skatepark. Matt Penny, 9, of Wenatchee, does a “Frontside Air” Sunday afternoon as he launches off the 6-foot mini-pipe. Revolution owner Joey McGuire said the park is about 3,500 square feet in size and includes the basic combinations of banks, down ledges, mini ramps, vert walls, hips, stairs, roll-ins and pyramids. The park is open seven days a week. There is a charge. Online information about the new Revolution`s Indoor Skate Park at - http://www.concretedisciples.com/skateparksdb/skateparks http://www.nwwintersportsman.com/Weather/revolution http://www.tbopusa.com/washington/wenatchee/revolution.htm http://www.revolutionsnowandskate.com

*** Man admits luring girl at Pioneer Park *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 09/16/2005 A 19-year-old Wenatchee man was sentenced to eight months in jail Monday after he pleaded guilty to luring a 13-year-old girl in Pioneer Park. ( More ) ----------------------------------------------------- *** Man pleads not guilty in kidnapping case *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 08/02/2005 A 19-year-old man accused of attempting to kidnap a 13-year-old girl last month at Pioneer Park pleaded not guilty Monday. Alberto Alvarez Horta was charged July 20 with first-degree attempted kidnapping and possession of methamphetamine. According to court documents, Alvarez, employed here during cherry harvest season, allegedly grabbed two girls by their wrists on July 16 and began dragging them to a pickup truck, saying he wanted to have sex with them. It is not known why charging documents list only one victim. The first charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, while the second carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Trial is set for Sept. 20. 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- *** Attempted Kidnapping At Skate Park *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 07/18/2005 Two girls at Pioneer Park, the skate park, were nearly abducted Friday night when a man they didn't know grabbed them by the wrists and began dragging them to a pickup, saying he wanted to have sex with them, police said. The girls escaped when one of them bit the man's forearm and he let go, Wenatchee police Sgt. John Kruse said. One of the victims is a 13-year-old who lives near the park. The age and hometown of the other victim weren't immediately available. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Friday. A 19-year-old man, Alberto Alvarez Horta, was arrested Saturday after the 13-year -old went back to the skate park area shortly after noon and saw him there, Kruse said. She ran home and -- too scared to call police herself -- had a friend call 911, he said.

Wenatchee, Washington -- 03/08/2005 Wenatchee Skate Park 03-08-2005 - Photos The skate park looks clean but with some trash in and around the skate park in the grass areas. Please keep the park clean! Pick up your litter!

*** Teenager reports robbery at Pioneer Park *** Wenatchee, Washington -- 10/19/2004 A 16-year-old boy told police that a man with a baseball bat demanded money from him at the Wenatchee Skate Park at Pioneer Park. The robbery was reported to the Wenatchee Police Department at 10:03 p.m. Monday, a police dispatch log says. Wenatchee police Sgt. John Kruse said this morning that the suspect had driven up in a car. Kruse said he did not have a report from the investigating officer and that he could not provide more information.

Wenatchee Skate Park 09-18-2004 ( Click photo for more pic`s ) A quick look at the skate park in September, 09-18-2004 A few people out skating and riding a bike after a small rain storm that wet down the park. The skate park had a bit of trash around the edges of the park and in the 7 foot skate bole a bit of graffiti can be found. Rules signs could not be found with in the skate park area or in Pioneer Park. It gos to show that crimes are still happing around the skate park with out any consequences to the ones doing the crimes. Its sad that the youth dos not have respect.

Wenatchee Skate Park 03-10-2004 ( Click photo for more pic`s ) A look at the Skate Park on March 10th 2004. It looks like the skate park has been cleaned up a bit, But some gang graffiti in the bole area. See photos 0009 & 0010 for the graffiti in the bole. It seems that the city of Wenatchee has posted up No Bicycles Allowed signs on a few light poles at the Skate Park. See photos 0006 , 0007 and 0008 for a look at the new signs hanging around the park. ~ A Heads Up! ~ To all the people that that do ride a bmx bicycle at the skate park, You can get a ticket for riding your bike at the Wenatchee Skate Park. It`s Official by seeing the No Bicycles Allowed signs at the Wenatchee Skate Park that there is NO place for a BMX bicycle to ride and have fun in the city of Wenatchee. Its a sad fact, but it is a true fact, no place to ride bmx.

( Click photo for more pic`s ) Wenatchee Skate Park coverd with snow on 12-18-2003 Last year on this same date 12-18-2002 (" photos-news-clip-below") the skate park was being used by diehard skateboarders thrashin in the cold but did not have the snow to deal with,In 2003 one year latter no one around in the skate park due to snow. But looks like the gang graffiti and drawings graffiti is not a stop at the skatepark, See last 2 photos - 0014 & 0015.

( Click photo for more pic`s ) Wenatchee Skate Park 11-17-2003 A bit cold out, but it looked like everyone was happy and having fun. The BMXers where bmxing and the Skateboarders where a skating. Both groups seem to be getting along with each other. Allowing BMX bicycles at Wenatchee Skate Park would be a good idea and lots cheeper than building a new bmx half pipe less then 300 feet from the skate park. Both groups seem to get along with each other, Just change the park rules. and just let everyone have fun at the skate park. http://www.genesbmx.com/petition.html

Corporate Bikes - corporatebikes.com October 18, 2003 Saturday Skatepark Tour Wenatchee Skatepark, Craig and I went to the wenatchee skatepark, Me and craig came here recently and it was pretty sick. Its mainly a big bowl. Cool Locals Location: Pioneer park next to Pioneer middle school, get on chelan street and turn on to ferry st. going up the hill. Park is on the right. Features: Big bowl with 4ft, 7ft, and 5 foot sections, spine, hips, pyramids its a bowl, geez. Cost: Free, Facilities: Water fountain, restrooms by pool (were under construction when we went) BMX Rating: 5.5/10 good flow, but some sketchy tranny HOW OUR TRIP WAS: Craig's folks went to ride the long bike trail in Wenatchee and they said we could tag along and go to the skatepark over there. We got there and got lost. We forgot the directions at craigs house. We spent an hour trying to find it and craig and i got ****** cause there are no maps in the phone books. So i ended up putting down 4 bones to get a map so we could find pioneer park where the skatepark was. We finally made i t after buying the map. The park was pretty dope. Most of the tranny was pretty sketchy, but once we got used to it it wasn't that bad. The locals there were super nice. Once we got used to riding the park, good stuff went down. Craig was manualing all around the bowl. I was 450ing the pyramid. Craig blasted crankflips on it. I 540 tailtapped from the deep part of the bowl to the small part. I hopped to manualed the grind box on the pyramid to manual to the corner of the bowl. Craig did the same thing backwards (manual to hop up on the box). I did a good nosewheelie to manual barspin on one of the big quarters. Mostly, we just flowed around the park cause it was like a huge bowl. We rode a few minutes of street at the school. From the looks of it wenatchee has a lot of rails and street riding. I'd say its worth the trip. The locals were telling us about some of the other parks around there too, but we didn't have time to get to em. Once we got home, craig and i got taco johns to end a good day of riding. It was fun to get out of town and ride something different for the day. Hopefully we can shred there again sometime. -Skylar corporatebikes.com

Wenatchee, Washington ( Click photo for more pic`s ) Wenatchee Skate Park 10-07-2003 BMXer`s riding hard and having fun getting some big air and having a blast doing so. The BMXer`s were suggesting that the city of Wenatchee change the park rules to let bmx bikes be allowed to ride at the skate park.

A update as of 09/19/2003 at 12:30pm A quick stop by the skate park, The gang graffiti was coverd over and is gone, at least for this time. But still lots of trash around the skate park grounds. "Alcohol and Soada Cans and Smoking butts" and a few teens skipping school and skateboarding at the park. What happend to the rule "Park closed to anyone under 18, during school hours". 09-09-2003 Wenatchee Skate Park Photos ( Click photo for more pic`s ) Looking at Wenatchee Skate Park on 09-09-2003, Lots of glass containers that have been shartterd around the park. Lots of smoking butts and trash in on the grounds and area. Foul and abusive language gang graffiti and drawings graffiti up on the skate park walls. ( see photos ) Area law crime blotter shows reports of a gun in the skate park area in the last few weeks. A few teens have been talked to by police for crimes in the area. And lots of people being ask to leave the park way past 10PM at night, week days and ends.

( Click photo for more pic`s ) Looking at Wenatchee Skate Park on 07-05-2003, at 2pm seems no one was using the park on this nice hot summer day, the day after the 4th of July - Independence Day.

Wenatchee Crimes and Skate Park Wenatchee Skate Park a source of Troubles & Hate Crimes,Teens attack jogger,videotape beating. This happend on February 9th 2003 For More news and feelings about this crime: Wenatchee Crimes and Skate Park

Wenatchee Skate Park 01-17-2003 ( Click photo for more pic`s ) Bikers and Skaters out in the cold of January ripin it up and having fun!

Wenatchee Skate Park 12-18-2002 ( Click photo for more pic`s ) Looking at the Skate park on 12/18/2002 A little cold out to be at the skate park but a hand full of die hard sk8ers are there. and they where have a good time sk8ing it up on a nice sunny cold December day with no snow? The Skate park could use a good sweeping out. Lots of tree droppings with in the skate park that makes it hard for people to ride there skateboards All and all it is winter time but would be a good idea to sweep the skate park up in the spring time. What has changed and what has not? The Skate Park Rules signs are missing and can not be found with in the park. and the light poles at the Skate Park braker/swich seems to have been locked up so it can`t be played with by people, Thanks! That is about all that has changed at the park. It would be nice to see some other changes soon. Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA All Things Northwest in BMX! ***** Gene`s BMX *****

*** Words of Thoughts for the Wenatchee`s Skate Park *** & ** Thoughts of Changes for the Skate Park...** August 23, 2002 Foul or Abusive Language will not be tolerated. Which is listed in the park rules and should be enforced to the fullest, in the summer of 2002 lots of Foul & Abusive Language at and around the Wenatchee skate park. Which is a big down fall for the Pioneer Park it`s self, Please CLEAN IT UP! Some people would say and recommend that the City of Wenatchee to add some steel coping and grind edges to the skate park. by adding the coping to the skate park it may help in the life of the park it`s self. And may help out with the people using the park in doing there tricks and things? This Link give a somewhat of an Idea on what coping is. Iv seen Picnic tables,Trash cans at the skate park getting beet up and crushed up by people using them as a coping and sliding in on to them. By adding coping to the skate park this may Save the Picnic tables for lunchs and save the trash cans for the trash? Photos at the Wenatchee Skate park 06/20/2002: #1 photo of a skateboarder on a Picnic table upsidedown #2 photo of a Picnic table upsidedown at skatepark The light poles at the Skate Park This would be the on/off swich for the lights at the park. The City of Wenatchee and the P.U.D. may want to look in to locking up the control swich boxes that is next to the fire pit, from the S.E. of the skatepark in Pioneer Park it`s self. For safety add a timer to the light box so people don`t play around with the swichs and the box it`s self. Iv seen young people playing with this light swich- braker by turning it on and off for fun. Also have see them taking water in soada cans and spiting the water in to the braker/swich to wach it bounce the braker and pop it open. Electricity is something that should not be played with at the skate park and is a big hazard at the Pioneer Park it`s self. In the summer 2002 Safety helments and equipment has not been seen on many people using the skate park. a hand full of the younger kids with safety helments on. has been seen at the skate park. but the older kids you don`t see safety helments on them. I understand that safety helments and equipment is just recommended at the park.I guess the question would be, Do people dislike there heads and brains? A question out to the (C.W.H.) ER room - How many people show up in the ER room with Injurys from the Wenatchee Skate park? Could they have not gottin injurys if they had Safety helments and equipment on at the time of there injurys if so? Think About It! Should the City of Wenatchee allow BMX bikes in Wenatchee Skate park? Yes - Why not? It is a Park. Do BMX bikes ruin the Skate Park? NO! spausa.org has been surveying parks for several years and have not come up with any evidence that BMX Bikes cause anymore wear & tear than skateboarders or inline skaters. Can BMX bikes and skateboarders use the park at the same time? YES! Wenatchee Skate Park is a very busy park the City of Wenatchee may want to designate special hours for BMX bikes. Dual Time Usage of the Skate Park ,It may ease some of the tensions? This Link shows a somewhat schedule for Dual Time Usage BMX and Skateparks How the two can-and should-mix BMX riders shouldn't be excluded Wenatchee BMX Dirt Jumping Park No interest from BMXers or People So NO Dirt Jumps at Pioneer Park "This should be RElooked at and thought about by the City of Wenatchee." Maybe in some other park? It may ease some of the tensions all about? What do you think about this? Email me at: Geneb@genesbmx.com Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA All Things Northwest in BMX! ***** Gene`s BMX *****

Wenatchee,Washington 06/20/2002 ( Click photo for more pic`s ) At the Wenatchee skate park on a hot summer day a group of bmx bikers where having fun and jumping there bmx bikes in to the air. As a hand full of skateboarders where trying to do there tricks and get air aswell. In the back ground was the Wenatchee city pool, crowed with lots of people trying to stay cool on this hot summers day in June. Photos by Gene`s BMX

Wenatchee , Washington 06/07/2002 Some Photos of BMXer`s ( Click photo for more Photos ) at the Wenatchee Skate Park Flyin High and Having Fun! Photos by Gene`s BMX

Wenatchee Skate Park 05-11-2002 Webshots by Gene`s BMX ( Click photo for more Photos ) Wenatchee,Washington May 11,2002 As one go`s by the skate park and seeing a hand full of bmxers,sk8ers,inliners. Looks like eveyone was having fun. As one stays there for about 30 min. You can start to feel some tension growing. The bmxers did not have much to say when asked about thoughts for Dual Time Usage of the Skate Park and the soon to be Dirt Jumps that where to be just west of the skate park. I was left by my self after I ask, when I flowed the hand full of bmxers as they stood in a group, they would brake up and regroup to a new spot at the skate park with leaving me out. It does look that the BMX bikers in Wenatchee Don`t care to much to have a place to ride there bikes. As one asked the skateboarders and inliners the same questions ther was a big yell in the back ground to not have bmx bikes at the skate park. All and all it looked like eveyone had smiles upon ther faces just for the skatepark being there. But there is a noticeable tension between the BMXers and the Skateboarder and inline skaters... Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA All Things Northwest in BMX! ***** Gene`s BMX *****

Skateboarders fly at this ... home of their own "Sk8ers Talk" ( 04/23/2002 )

Photos Of the SkatePark May 26,2001 Photos By Gene`s BMX ( Click On Photos for full size! ) Some other info found online about, Wenatchee Skate Park( By Concrete disciples )

Douglas County - East Wenatchee SKATE PARK! Park Location: Eastmont County Park, 255 N. Georgia, East Wenatchee, WA 98802 Contact Name: ? "Parks Dept." Phone: 509-? Comments: A converted bumper-boat pool. Contains oval track, ramps, quarter pipes and pyramid. Surrounded by a BMX bicycle track. 05/14/2000 In-line skates and skateboards will be out. BMX bikes and radio-controlled cars will be in. That's the plan this season for the Skate Park at Eastmont County Park. "With Wenatchee's skate park (in Pioneer Park), interest is dwindling here and there's more interest in these other things," said Bob Houston, recreation supervisor of the Douglas County Parks and Recreation Department."We're trying to provide different recreational opportunities," he said. As in fall of 2001 the Eastmont Skate Park & BMX bicycle track is "Closed"! And they are NOT there anymore! Now sits at the old bumper-boat pool is a toy remote car track,When asked the Douglas County Parks why the skate park is not there, they had NO quote.!

*** Skateboard Competition *** Wenatchee Washington - 10/25/1999 A skateboard competition at Pioneer Park in Wenatchee on Saturday attracted about 100 spectators and about 30 competitors. A similar competition is scheduled for next weekend at the Moses Lake Skate Park.

Conflict on Concrete Skatepark center of concerns Concerns at the Wenatchee SkateBoard Park at Pioneer Park.- Wenatchee,Washington Part 1 'Conflict on concrete:03/17/1999 Part 2 'Graffiti is a symptom:03/18/1999 Part 3 'Boarders speak out:03/19/1999

*** Swimmers Camp out at Pioneer Park *** Wenatchee,Washington - 07/31/1998 Those swimmers may be tough, what with daily lap workouts of a mile or more ... but camping on concrete? Actually a tent just blew off the grass and into the nearby in-line skate and skateboard area at Pioneer Park Thursday afternoon when it was left unattended by some of the 900 junior swimmers arriving for regional competition this weekend. A Skater Tyler Dew, 13, Wenatchee, was curious enough to take a peek inside. Another 900 swimmers are at the Eastmont County Pool for additional competition.

*** You can join Friends of the Parks *** By STEPHEN MAHER, Wenatchee World staff writer Wenatchee,Washington --01/15/1998 When skateboarders needed a place to drop in, parents, boarders, volunteers and the city banded together last year and built the Wenatchee Skate Park at Pioneer Park. A year earlier, the Wenatchee Rotary oversaw construction of a large playground at Lincoln Park, again using volunteers, in-kind contributions and donations. Now the city of Wenatchee is creating a formal way for people to participate in future projects by starting a Friends of the Parks Program. Plans call for the program to start sometime this year, and city commissioners have said it's a priority. Parks Director Chuck Largent said people likely will have two ways to join Friends of the Parks. If they live near a park, they can become the "eyes and ears" for the city by reporting vandalism, criminal activity or other problems. Or they can agree to help out regularly with park improvements and repairs, similar to what occurs on Make A Difference Day each fall. "It could be anything from planting a new rose bush to building a new restroom," Largent said. Largent said virtually every city park needs work or improvements, including new drinking fountains, benches and plantings. In addition, some trees cut down in recent years because of disease or safety concerns have yet to be replaced. "We're trying to plant trees back when we can, but there is a need for more," he said. Largent plans to talk about the Friends of the Parks Program at neighborhood meetings the city will be holding in February.

*** Bicycles banned from skate park: *** ~City officials issue challenge to bicyclists to design their own course~ By JEANETTE MARANTOS, Wenatchee World staff writer Wenatchee,Washington -- 09/10/1997 The new Wenatchee Skate Park is now officially just a skate park, with bicycles off-limits on the smooth concrete walls and jumps. But city officials and Terry Bawden, head of Friends of Wenatchee Skate Park, met with bicycle riders at the park Monday and challenged them to design their own course, one that can be strictly for bicycles. "It won't be as expensive or complicated as the skate park," said Bawden. "Bike tracks are usually just made of piled-up dirt." Bawden said even the bicyclists recognized the inherent danger of having bicycle riders weaving between skateboard riders and roller-bladers at the park. The skaters have been protesting the presence of bikes ever since the park opened, but Bawden said it's disappointing to bike riders who want a place to do jumps and trick riding, too. The skate park cost about $40,000 to build, with the city paying about $20,000, Chelan County providing $4,000 and the Wenatchee School District paying $1,000. The remainder was raised by supporters, skaters and skateboard riders over a period of four years. The skaters even recommended that the bicyclists could sell concessions at skating competitions and exhibitions to help raise money for their project, Bawden said. About 15 teens met at the park Tuesday afternoon with Bawden and Parks Director Chuck Largent, who made the decision to ban bikes. Bawden said they've all agreed to meet at 4 p.m. every Tuesday at the park until they get all the issues worked out. Skaters who attended the meeting also agreed to work with Bawden on writing out a code of ethics for using the park, to satisfy the city's needs for some rules of conduct. Among rules agreed to by the skaters are new hours, from daylight till 9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Bawden, co-chair Gene Anderson and Parks Director Chuck Largent also honored the many volunteers and donors during the city commissioners meeting Tuesday night who helped create the skate park. Donors who gave $500 or more in cash or donated services included SeaFirst Bank, Washington Trust Bank, Mission Ridge Foundation, Town Toyota, Sangster Motors, Selland Construction, Zumiez, Danny Campbell, Mary Ellen Miller, Together! for Drug Free Youth, Central Washington Home Builders, Mike Wood Excavation, Doug Jones Concrete and Pipkin Construction. Also honored Tuesday were three of the people who helped get the project off the ground -- "retired" skateboarder Josh Porterfield, 18, and his parents, Larry and Nancy Southwick.

***Skateboard Park sets free a teen ballet on wheels and concrete*** By JEANETTE MARANTOS, Wenatchee World staff writer Wenatchee,Washington -- 09/07/1997 Kids say the new Wenatchee Skate Park is "awesome," "cool" and extremely popular. But it's not for the faint of heart, especially if you're a parent. The park was packed with users weeks ago, even before contractors were finished pouring the concrete. And this past Thursday, the day before its formal dedication, more than 30 skaters and even a few bicyclists were zipping up and down the concrete walls in a wheeled ballet of clattering boards, narrow misses and sometimes spectacular collisions. Although the small signs around the park strongly recommend safety equipment, almost no one on Thursday wore a helmet or knee pads. A few, usually the most skilled, wore wrist guards to keep their wrists from breaking as they tried to prevent a spill. "Most people don't like to wear pads and helmets because they're uncomfortable," said Jesse McDonald, a 14-year-old in-line skater. "And most of the time, if you wear pads it's because you think you're going to fall, so you do fall. When you don't have pads on, you're a little more careful" "No you're not," interjected skateboarder Gabe Embler, 23. "You just bleed." And there is some blood -- although no tears. These skaters are like the football players who always run off the field waving, no matter how badly they've been smashed. Skaters and skateboarders, do things that appear to defy physics, like a 360-flip. That's where a rider manages to make the board simultaneously flip and turn 360 degrees while he makes a little nonchalant hop into the air. When it's done right, the rider lands on a straight-moving board. When it's done wrong, which is often, the rider falls, or the board breaks. There are lots of jumps and hops that can break a board, and that's what makes the sport expensive, said Shane Gerde, 14, who wears a "Skate and Destroy" T-shirt. A fully outfitted skateboard costs around $110, Gerde said, but the boards themselves run $50 to $60 apiece, and he figures he breaks about a board a month. In his case, it's not so hard to replace a board. "I just ask my parents if they need any yard work done, but a lot of kids have trouble getting a board. One of the best skaters here is like that. We give him all our old used boards, if they don't break." Safety equipment is expensive, too. One good skater spent $45 on his glove-style wrist guards. But one of the reasons the park is so popular is because it doesn't have any requirements, skaters said. They talked with disdain about the skate park in East Wenatchee, where admission costs $2 to $3, depending on where you live, and safety gear is required. The Eastmont park is too small, the skaters say, and way too crowded. And they don't like having a monitor telling them what to do. The skaters also know that they and their supporters helped raise half the $40,000 the city used to build the Wenatchee park, so they feel they should have lots of say in how it's run. Wenatchee's park is free and unmonitored in large part for insurance reasons. A state law dating back to 1967 removes liability from public and private land owners who let people use their land for free for recreational purposes. Adding a supervisor would actually increase the city's liability, said Nancy Heyen, risk management specialist for the Association of Washington Cities, because it would raise the expectation that someone should have prevented any injuries. And requiring safety equipment doesn't work unless you have someone to enforce the rule, she said, because otherwise people can claim the city is liable for their injuries because no one made them wear a helmet or pads. The Association insures numerous cities with skate parks, she said, and none have monitors or requirements for safety gear. "From a liability point of view it's better to say, 'Use at your own risk,' " she said. There is one new rule at the Wenatchee Skate Park that went up Thursday that irritates some of the skaters. It forbids anyone under 18 from using the park during school hours. Parks Director Chuck Largent said the school district requested that rule to keep the park from being too much of a lure to students at the nearby high school and adjacent Pioneer Middle School. But skaters are an independent group, and they insist they can monitor themselves. If you want to talk about rules, the skaters say, make some rules that forbid bicycle riders and beginning skaters. "They just get in the way," said skateboarder Ben Lawrence. Anthony Aguirre, a skateboarder who brings his three sons, ages 8, 9 and 10, is one of the few wearing a helmet and knee pads. He says he's impressed at how well people get along, but he still thinks it would be a good idea if the city hired someone to monitor the park. Parent Deanna DeBord agrees. She takes turns with other north-end parents, driving their children to the park for a few hours after school. She says she's been pleasantly surprised at how well the skaters get along. "I was visualizing all the kids with broken bones," she said. "But I'd still like to see someone keeping an eye out here."

*** 'Please take good care of it' *** By Dan Wheat, Wenatchee World staff writer WENATCHEE -- 09/07/1997 A community gift to the youth of Wenatchee was dedicated Friday night where tennis courts once stood in Pioneer Park. The new Wenatchee Skate Park is finally a place for skateboarders and in-line skaters. About 200 people, many teens on skateboards, listened and accepted a charge from Terri Bawden to take care of the park which she called a legacy from an earlier group and a gift from them, the city and community. Listening youth agreed to serve on an advisory board to guide the park's future. "As an enrichment teacher (for Wenatchee School District) my job is to find and nurture talent in kids -- all kinds of talent," Bawden said. "So when my son (Jay Ullrich) came home about four years ago and starting doing some amazing acrobatics on his skateboard I became intrigued. "At first I thought it was just a fad, but I saw how seriously he and his friends took this sport. They spent hours and hours practicing just as my other son used to do on his piano or guitar." But there was no place for skateboarders. The city didn't want them on downtown sidewalks. The youth, Bawden and other parents formed Friends for a Wenatchee Skate Park and raised $28,000 over four years. With $20,000 from the city, the park was built this summer. She listed Sky Sturek, Josh Porterfield, Adam Moore, Eric Just, Scott Myrene, Joel Myrene, Hoang Nguyen, Hy Nguyen,Keith Stokes, Rob Stanley and her son as the original boys who lead the drive to build the park. "This isn't their park anymore," Bawden told the teens. "It's your park now. Enjoy it. But please take good care of it."

JUST TO TEMPTING Photo By Mike Bonnicksen Story By Jeanette Marantos, Wenatchee World staff writer on 08/07/97 After four years of waiting,eager skaters are getting a jump on things by using the Unfinished skate park. Skateboarders,skaters and others who love bumps,jumps and dives have been waiting four years for a place to paly without reprimand. So a few signs and a flimsy fence have hardly been enough to keep them away from the nearly completed Wenatchee Skate Park at Pioneer Park. They`re not supposed to be using it now because they haven`t finished pouring the concrete yet, and thers some danger because of the construction going on,said parks Director Chuck Largent. But its really hard because the kids are just so eager.After waiting so long,they`re so anxious to get in ther.I went down and saw about 25 kids down ther the other night,and they were just having a ball.The Park is especially inviting,Largent said. Its just awesome. Its one of the nicest facilities we`ve ever built for the kids in this town. And when they see it, the kids will go nuts. Nonetheless,Largent said city officials are trying to keep kids off the 60-by-100 foot area at least until the concrete work is finished late next week.Then the city has plans to do some landscaping around the site,and its looking at whether it can afford lighting as well.

*** Help needed at skate park *** Wenatchee,Washington -- 07/28/1997 The contractor who's handling the concrete work at the Wenatchee Skate Park needs help Tuesday and Wednesday from volunteers. The city is paying for about half of the $40,000 project, which is relying heavily on fund-raisers, volunteer workers and donated materials. The new skate park is being built in Pioneer Park, at Fuller and Russell streets. Adults and teens who want to do community service work can show up at the park around 8 a.m. with work gloves. No skills are required.

*** Skate Park Taking shape *** Wenatchee,Washington - 07/16/1997 The first concrete was poured Tuesday for ramps at the new skate park at the site of the old Pioneer Park tennis courts in Wenatchee. Doug Jones Construction is handling the project, which is expected to be finished sometime this summer. Volunteers are still welcome and should contact Chuck Largent at the city Parks Department.

*** Skate park construction to begin in spring *** ~Anonymous donation helps put project over the top~ Wenatchee, Washington -- 02/12/1997 It appears that Wenatchee's long awaited skate park will finally get built this spring, thanks to an infusion of cash, a few key volunteers and streamlined plans that have made the project more affordable. Parks Director Chuck Largent said the Chelan County commissioners gave the group $4,000, and a donor who wishes to be anonymous has pledged another $5,000 to $7,000 to see the project completed. That gives the group enough money to cover the $8,000 fee from California landscape architect Ken Wormhoudt and still have the required $20,000 to match the $20,000 pledged by the city to build the park. Largent said the new budget is $39,700, which includes $5,000 for contingencies. With the new contributions, the group now has $40,800 to do the work. The group has also gotten several contractors to volunteer their work, Largent said. Dale O'Neal, the retired manager of the Douglas County Sewer District, has agreed to be the project manager, and he's recruited retired Chelan County PUD engineer Eldon Rickman to help him. The idea began nearly four years ago when several teens complained to city officials that they had nowhere to ride their skateboards because of city rules prohibiting their use on sidewalks. The group asked the city to build a skate park, and the City Commission agreed to set aside the old tennis courts at Pioneer Park and provide up to $20,000 in funds for the project,as long as the group raised the matching funds. The teens, their parents and supporters raised close to $16,000, but there were many delays along the way. The group hired Wormhoudt to design a sturdy skate park, similar to those he's designed in Southern California, but his plans turned out to be much more expensive than the group could afford. Largent said the group scaled back those plans this winter with the volunteer help of local contractors. For instance, the project now calls for 3/8-inch rebar instead of 3/4-inch, which resulted in a savings of more than $5,000. And on the advice on contractors, it's also reduced the thickness of the concrete slab from 4 inches to 2 5/8 inches, reducing the price from $9,300 to $4,000. Late last year, city commissioners asked Chelan County commissioners if they would help with the project, and just before the end of the year the county commissioners agreed to budget $4,000 from the county's parks and recreation fund. The new county commissioners who took office in January agreed Tuesday to honor the former commission's decision, but not without some grumbling. Commissioner Ester Stefaniw noted that the city of Chelan is looking for funds to build its own skate park and she didn't want this decision to set a precedent.

Wenatchee`s Pioneer Park 1996, Home Of the New Skate Park. Photo By Gene`s BMX

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