The Lincoln Skatepark Association says the city needs more skateparks and they want residents to learn more at an open house on Sunday, September 18 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
The open house will be held at Lincoln Budokan Dojo at 601 Calvert Street. The open house will feature a presentation on modern skatepark design, information about its signature drive and a showing of the classic short film “Skaterdater.”
“Progressive communities across the country know that adding modern, professionally-designed skateparks improves their quality of life,” says LSA President Phil Burcher. “Few public facilities promote tourism, health and wellness and serve a wide range of athletes as well as skateparks.”
In addition to giving roller skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, scooter riders and wheelchair users a safe place to exercise, Burcher says skateparks make communities more attractive to high school and college graduates considering their next moves, and to young families looking for safe, healthy places to raise their children.
Burcher said that compared to similar cities, Lincoln’s roller sports athletes are underserved and the addition of a large, destination-sized skatepark is long overdue.
“A city of Lincoln’s size should offer at least 110,000 square feet of safe, durable skating areas to fully support the hundreds of roller sport athletes that live here,” Burcher says. “With only 10,000 square feet of skating area currently available in Lincoln, we plan to meet with Parks and Recreation Department officials about the possibility of South Haymarket Park as the site of Lincoln’s first large skatepark.”
The non-profit’s current focus is to urge Lincoln residents to sign a petition in support of more skateparks. To sign the petition and learn more about LSA, visit lnksa.org. For more information on the open house, visit @lnkskatepark on Facebook.