Skatepark removal ramps up controversy

Local skateboarders rolled to Facebook after seeing ramps being removed from the Sidney skatepark located adjacent to the community center earlier this month.

On the "Sidney Skate Park Effort" Facebook page those who helped bring the skatepark to Sidney left comments about their concerns for the future of the skatepark as well as memories shared at it.

Efforts to bring a skatepark to Sidney first began in 2002 when then-middle school students received help from teacher Riley Wheems to create ideas for funding. Thirteen years ago, Ben Carey and Zack Appleby were two of those skateboarding middle schoolers who wanted to create a place to skate along with several other contributors.

"As a kid it meant freedom to do what I loved most without fear of prosecution," said Carey. "There is a serious sense of pride when I think about the skatepark, knowing we built it and knowing that there was a place we could go where we could be who we were."

According to City of Sidney Park Superintendent Tom Von Seggern, the skatepark was installed at the beginning of the summer of 2002.

"Two of the original four tennis courts were taken out of commission to allow for the skatepark," Von Seggern said.

Before the skate park was made available, local skaters would get in trouble for skating outside of local businesses.

"The city said they would match the funds we raised for the skatepark. We passed out pamphlets door to door, hosted a soup feed fundraiser at the school, received help from the Kiwanis, went to city council meetings and raised upwards of $2,500," Carey said. "When the ramps arrived we all helped assemble the park."

Throughout the years the park experienced wear and tear that left the asphalt cracked, making it almost unusable.

"In my opinion, this is why a lack of attendance at the park is on the rise," said Thad Mines, a Sidney skateboarder. "It's like having a a basketball court, but there isn't a backboard on the hoops. Nobody is going to use this facility unless there is the proper equipment and maintenance."

According to Von Seggern, the last time the city patched cracks caused from the freeze-thaw cycle was in 2008.

"McAtee Construction from Sterling, Colo., patched the cracks and repainted the surface at both the skatepark and tennis courts, but these expansion cracks have since split open again."

A city survey that was conducted showed that there was an interest in other park activities such as a new pool, an outdoor basketball court and an area for sand volleyball. According to Von Seggern, the council and city staff decided to move forward with the removal of the skatepark surface and replace it with two sand volleyball courts.

The future location for the skatepark still has not been decided, but Von Seggern assured that it would be relocated.

"Conversations have been on-going with council as to a whole master plan for the park system," Von Seggern said. "Included in that discussion would be looking at various options as to where to locate the skate park and any new purchases or replacements of old equipment."

Although the old skatepark is gone, memories for those who helped contribute to building it and spent time there won't go forgotten.

"I've seen generations of kids at the skatepark when it was in its prime," Appleby said. "We all had a bond and would spend every day all day at the park. The skatepark is an accomplishment, it shows that through hard work and determination you can accomplish anything. Many people told us it couldn't be done and that Sidney wouldn't support it, and we proved them wrong."

"My greatest memory of the skatepark was one of the concerts we had there for National Go Skateboarding Day. We played as (the band) Dolly Hit Dollie, had a huge barbeque and skated until long after the sun went down," Carey said.