SkatePark Plainview Grand Opening will be held on Thursday, July 16th at SkatePark Plainview (6th & Joliet).
The public is invited to the dedication ceremony beginning at 4:30 p.m. to honor those who helped make the SkatePark a reality. After the dedication ceremony, skaters involved in Vision SkatePark Plainview will have an opportunity to showcase their skills on the new obstacles and ramps at the Park.
After the ceremony, the Plainview Fire Department will be on hand until 6:30 p.m. to educate children (and adults) about skateboarding safety and will be giving away prizes such as helmets and pads donated by Wal-Mart and t-shirts donated by Graphic Zone.
Food will be available courtesy of HK2020, Covenant Hospital Plainview & West Texas WoodFire Grill and will include chicken k-bobs, fruit, water and more. HK2020 participants are also encouraged to attend.
SkatePark Plainview began in the winter of 2009 when a young man visited with Phyllis Wall and asked her if she could help get a skatepark in Plainview. “After that conversation, I knew in my heart that Plainview needed something that made a statement to our youth – we listen and they (the youth) are important to our future,” said Wall. “One night, while sleeping, God woke me up and said, ‘The time is now to start the skatepark project.'”
Vision Skatepark Plainview became a reality after several planning sessions with skateboarders and interested individuals although there were many steps in the process. Beginning with submitting the idea to the Parks Advisory Council as an agenda item and circulating a petition throughout the community for signatures to support a skatepark. Several hundred signatures were presented along with the vision to the Parks Advisory Council and then, in late August of 2010, Vision Skatepark Plainview presented their vision to the Plainview City Council.
The initial members of Vision SkatePark Plainview included: Kelli Watson, Melissa Turpen, Jacob Turpen, Joshua Turpen, Mario Leyva, Jennifer King, Kade Young, Cody Russell, Peter Keltz, Kyle Wiggs, Kendrick Brown, Zeke Solorzano, Braden Landtroop, Brendon Brown, Patrick Jernigan, Sherri Leewright, Jeremy Collins, Josiah Hererra, Coralyn Dillard and the Rotary Club.
The city council recommended further study for the location and four possible locations were considered by Vision Skatepark Plainview and park superintendent, Rusty Reese. Later Spohn Ranch met with skateboarders to take from their vision and create a competition level park that would bring visitors into our community.
In January 2015, with council chambers filled with skateboarders and friends, the city council approved the construction. Construction for the new park started in May 2015.
For any questions regarding the SkatePark Grand Opening, please contact Melinda Brown at mbrown@plainviewtx.org.
(News release from the City of Plainview)
