KELSEYVILLE >> Austin Mueller, 22, of Kelseyville, had only two words to say about the opening of the Kelseyville Skate Park Wednesday morning: “I’m stoked.”
About three dozen skateboarders, scooter riders and BMX bikers joined several county officials to officially open the $300,000 facility, located next to the dirt bike area.
“I’m an avid skater and I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Mueller said. “It gives kids in the county one more thing to do.”
The new facility is part of the three-acre Kelseyville County Park at 5270 State St. It is something that local BMXers, skateboarders and others have waited a long time for.
Brian Powers, project director with the Lake County Public Services Department, is just as thrilled about the skate and bike facility as the youth and adults who use it.
“I’m very excited to finally get it open,” he said. Powers has been a key figure in bringing the park to fruition. He describes the park’s design as “futuristic.”
Powers said the facility is the culmination of years of planning, adding, “The whole community has been really excited about the park, especially the kids, who have been wanting something like this for years.”
Even though it’s called a skate park, it’s open to just about anything non-motorized that can be ridden, including BMX bikes, scooters, skateboards and in-line skates.
“Pretty much anything that has wheels can go on this thing,” Powers said.
Dylan McAdon, 14, of Kelseyville, was at the park’s grand opening Wednesday and said, “I’m here because it’s a lot of fun to ride. There’s lots of ramps. It’s really well-made. There’s going to be a lot of riders here, a lot.”
The riders helped with Wednesday’s official opening of the park, putting a twist on the traditional ribbon cutting.
Instead of scissors, kids an boards, bikes and scooters rolled down a ramp and broke through the red ribbon like race competitors crossing the finish line as several dozen spectators looked on.
Ryder Galvani of Kelseyville stood out among the mostly teen riders Wednesday because, well, he’s a little guy. But the four-year-old on his scooter wasn’t intimidated buy the bigger kids. In fact, Ryder was glad he was riding Wednesday with the more experienced guys.
“I don’t know any tricks so I came here to learn,” he explained.
Powers said the local skate and BMX community had a lot of input on the park’s design and construction, from beginning to end.
One of those local leaders is Zach Holt, 21, of Kelseyville, who started riding at age four at Springer’s Pond, hanging out with other riders. But when that private property was closed off to them, it became clear to Holt that, “We needed somewhere else to ride.”
Several local government officials, including Fifth District Supervisor Rob Brown and Powers, agreed with the kids and the idea for the skate park was born. But like all births, it took time for the “baby” to grow.
First came the dirt bike area that was pretty much put together by dirt bike and BMX riders..
While the dirt was great for bike riders, it wasn’t good for skateboarders or scooter riders. Something more was needed and that “more” turned into the concrete and steel skate facility.
“It’s just the realization of a dream we’ve had for a long time,” Holt said. “When I see all these kids out here, I get jealous because it makes me think about being in high school and junior high again.”
He added, confidently, “Every kid in Kelseyville is going to come here because it’s so awesome.”
As long as there have been BMXers and skateboarders, there has been a rivalry between the two groups of riders even though many do both sports. But the rivalry was not apparent Wednesday as the attitudes of BMX, skateboard and scooter riders was more about friends and fellowship.
“We’re all friends here, at least most of us” Holt said.
He offered these words of advise for riders who come to the park: “You can come here but without a self-righteous attitude and please don’t show any disrespect.”
In what may have been a welcome break from his usual schedule, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin visited the grand opening, calling it a “significant event” for the community.
“It’s good to see something positive for youth,” Martin said.
Standing with a group of other spectators at the event, Martin watched the riders for several minutes, many without helmets. Martin then remarked, as if thinking out loud, “I’ve got to make some calls to people I know to see if we can get some helmets for the kids that can’t afford them.”
