Skateboarders have new place to play

Evanston formally opened its new skate park Saturday with a ribbon-cutting by local officials and skate-centered activities and freebies.

Though young skateboarders have been using the facility in Twiggs Park near Green Bay Road for weeks, Evanstonians of all ages were present for the event that included free food and a raffle featuring prizes including boards and safety gear.

Some prizes were provided by Mack’s Bike & Goods in Evanston.  Co-owner Kelly Mack said that her husband was a BMX enthusiast growing up in Evanston and that “he would have done anything” to have a dedicated area appropriate for such activities.

“We’re very lucky the city invested in this,” she said.

Amanda D’Agostino, special events coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department, said that skaters have been using the facility since late last year, and the “official” grand opening has been in the works since January.

“We knew that as soon as we got some sunshine, we had to come back out and do something fun,” she said.

Parks and Recreation Director Audrey Thompson said skateboarders have wanted a place to call their own for many years.

She hopes the new venue would lure skateboarding enthusiasts away from the more hazardous concrete jungle of downtown Evanston that has attracted them in the past.

Mayor Daniel Biss said activities like skateboarding are what “we need to be doing around here.”  City-sponsored venues like the skate park, he added, create “opportunities for people to be together, to be outside, to enjoy one another’s company.”

Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th) is a skating enthusiast who got involved with the formation of the skate park project when the city sought input from the skateboarding community, as well as BMX enthusiasts, rollerbladers and scooter riders.  “I think this skate park is really a testament to collaboration,” he said.

All through the speeches and festivities, young skateboarders showed their stuff as they whipped down the concrete ramps.  They seemed to have found their place in Evanston and couldn’t be happier.