By Mary Owen
Stayton skaters are kick-flipping and nose-grinding at the new Stayton skate park.
“We got the equipment in the first part of August and it was up and running Aug. 15,” said City Administrator Don Eubank.
The new skate park, located in the parking lot between the YMCA Family Pool and the Stayton Public Library, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. All activities at the skate park are supervised by a city employee or volunteers from time to time. Helmets must be worn by all participants, and those without can pick up a free helmet at the Stayton Police Department.
Although this is a temporary site, the skate park is drawing skateboarders, skaters and bicyclists from throughout Stayton, Eubank said.
“I was over there the other day, and a 4-year-old was riding his bike there,” he said. “Mom and Dad were watching. That’s great!”
The history behind the Stayton’s skate park began several years ago when city officials were given land by NORPAC, across from Stayton High School on Locust. Some $110,000 was raised to fund the building, several contractors volunteered to do the physical work, but the park fell victim to neighborhood opposition.
“We had to give back the funds,” said Gerry Aboud, who was mayor at the time. “We tried a couple of other locations over the years, but they all failed because of local opposition.”
Aboud believes the skate park is important for the segment of the community that wants it. Future plans include relocating it to a new park proposed for an area not in the city limits and with no neighbors to bother.
“It’s important to follow the parks master plan and purchase the property,” Aboud said of the 20 acres behind and to the west of Stayton Middle School. “We can’t get distracted and not get it done. We need to move forward on it.”
Eubank said another location considered is land in front of the city’s water treatment plant.
“There is a huge area, three football fields there,” he said. “And it ties in with the trails plan, Riverfront Park. To me, it’s one of the better locations.”
Eubank said city councilors are in favor of keeping a skate park.
“The kids want it,” he said. “They’re having a blast at the temporary park.”
Both agree the current location would be best kept as green space, where local concerts, weddings, and even family picnics can take place.
“Ken Cartwright held his concerts there in the summer,” Aboud said. “It’s a perfect spot. And we need open space. Part of parks is space for people to throw a ball around. If we add (the skate park) there, we’d be doing a disservice to the community.”
Meanwhile, Eubank said users young and old are enjoying their rides.
“The kids are taking care of it, because they want it,” he said. “That’s exciting!”
Eubank said users have been told since day one “you abuse it, you lose it.”
“It’ll be there for a long time,” he said. “It’s a good thing. We’re going to do what we can to get a permanent site.”
