Skaters and BMXers waited anxiously at the Lebanon Skate Park early July as construction crews put the finishing touches on the second phase of the park.
The gates opened July 4, and skaters who waited all summer for the park to reopen have since tested the new additions.
Jack Lang said he couldn’t wait for the park to reopen.
“I came to the skate park one day in just tears,” he half-joked.
The new additions, including a pump track and fun box, will open a lot more opportunities, and will also save on gas money since he won’t have to drive to Albany anymore, Lang said.
“I’ll be able to do back flips a lot more,” he said.
Lang’s specialty is BMX, and he’s entered and won contests on the West Coast, but he doesn’t anticipate he’ll be a pro.
“I just like riding, so I do it,” he said. “That’s why I do it; it makes me feel cool, makes me happy.”
While Lebanon Local was on scene, Lang rode the pump track into the fun box and did a 360 on his BMX. Since that was the first time that trick was performed at the Lebanon Skate Park, his buddies labeled it “A Lebanon First.”
The riders like to joke around and call the park by different names, such as “Lebanon Skat Park.” Lang gave a more touching term.
“I call it a lot of things, but I mostly call it home,” he said.
The second phase of the park was designed by Dreamland Skateparks, a family owned company based in Oregon. They originally presented several designs to the skate park’s board of directors, and residents and skaters of Lebanon were given the opportunity to vote for their favorite design.
Sara Kjellgren, skate park board member, spent time with the Dreamland crew, and was impressed with their level of character.
Skateboarders get a bad reputation, she said, but the crew was some of the best guys she’d ever met.
“They spent time with my boys and took them to skate spots after they worked so hard,” she said.
The grand reopening for the Lebanon Skate Park will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, followed by this year’s first skate competition.
Donations for the skate park are still being accepted to cover the cost of construction. Send checks payable to:
Lebanon SkatePark Committee, 31479 Stoltz Hill Road, Lebanon, OR 97355.