Skatepark at Tierra Dedicated
Students continue raising funds to provide park equipment

Mayor Don Wesely, Parks and Recreation Department officials and Southeast High School students today dedicated the city�s new skatepark at Tierra Park, 27th Street and Tierra Drive. The students, who helped fund, design and build the new skatepark, raised over $30,000 to help complete Phase I of the Tierra Skatepark Project.

"This celebration is the manifestation of a vision shared by our community and our young people," said Mayor Wesely. "These students took on this skatepark challenge with a passion, and today you see their dream turned into reality. I�m very impressed and proud of the efforts these students have displayed."

The city funded the new skatepark�s 60-foot by 100-foot concrete base, which cost about $15,000. The Phase I modular equipment, which cost about $26,000, was funded through the students� campaign. The students are continuing their campaign to raise an additional $50,000 for the purchase of park equipment. The concrete base will be expanded to 80-feet by 100-feet when fund-raising efforts allow for the addition to be constructed. A 100-foot long, 10-foot high chain-link divider fence is in place to provide a safe separation between the skatepark and an adjacent soccer field.

This is the city�s second skatepark. The first, at Peter Pan Park, 3250 "X" Street, was dedicated in December 2001. Southeast High students helped build the Peter Pan Park facility, and the project was funded through the Neighborhood Self-Help Improvement Program, donations and city funds.

"Once again I�m inspired by the youth of our community," said Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Johnson. "I continue to be impressed by their ambition and dedication. We are always willing to partner with such outstanding volunteers."

"We really wanted to create a good place for us and our friends to skate, a place where we could all be comfortable," said Southeast High student Colby Collura. "We feel that this open location is perfect for us, and we hope that the park neighbors feel the same. Best of all, we know that this park will be enjoyed way beyond our years here and that the little guys just learning to skate will look at what we�ve done and see that they can continue our efforts, because it can be done."

The skatepark dedication and ribbon-cutting are part of a day-long celebration at Tierra Park. Among the activities are skating demonstrations conducted by a team from Precision Skateboards, an open skating session with music provided by KISS-FM, live music from 4 to 9 p.m. as well as various games and activities, provided by Tobacco Free Nebraska. Sponsors for today�s Tierra Park Skatepark Dedication are Lincoln Southeast High School, Precision Skateboards, Tobacco Free Nebraska, the Lincoln Council on Alcoholism and Drugs, Inc. and the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department.