Rollin' along Harrisburg Township Park unveils new skate park
HARRISBURG - It's Friday evening, and one new portion of Harrisburg Township Park is covered up with people using the latest attraction, a new skate park.
To say area skateboarders are excited is an understatement.
"We've been eyeing the day, and as soon as it opened today, we were over here," said Doug Seagraves, an Eldorado resident and skateboarder since 1985. "It's been a pretty decent crowd."
Seagraves is here with his nephew, Kruiz Foles, watching him and giving him a little advice. Mostly, though, he's letting Kruise get a feel for the new park.
While once not considered much of a sport, the public perception of skateboarding has changed over time, Seagraves said.
"Years ago, a skate park was not something you'd find in a town park. Skateboarding was sort of taboo, but now it's really going mainstream. It's going to be an Olympic sport, and now a lot of towns around here feature skate parks."
Blake Emery, executive director of Harrisburg Township Park, said the skate park had been planned for installation at the park for some time.
"It was in the works before I started here. The board already had designated money for this," Emery said. "This past year, we were working with the skateboard company, which is American Ramp Co., and there was some back-and-forth getting it to happen and fitting it within our budget."
Emery said the equipment installed should last for some time.
"We wanted to get quality equipment, something that was going to last and be a good, safe product. If we're going to invest big, we want it to be the best," Emery said.
A future expansion is possible, he said.
"Hopefully we'll be able to add to it. We have plans to expand, if we have the money available," Emery said.
The final product was a good deal of effort, he said.
"It was a lot of work and a long process to get it going. I was lucky enough to come here and pull the final strings."
In the meantime, skaters are grateful.
"This is something a lot of people can use," Seagraves said, watching his nephew roll in on the transition. "We're glad it's here."