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*** Grand Coulee's Skatepark In Place And Ready ***

Grand Coulee, Washington -- 09/13/2006


Photo - Workers unload several pieces off of two semi-truck
loads Tuesday that were put in place to form the elements
of a new skatepark in Grand Coulee.


The official ribbon cutting for Grand Coulee's new
skateboard park has been set for 11 a.m., Saturday,
Sept. 23, Karl Pearson told the city council Sept 5.

The park was completed Sept. 12, with the installation
of the long awaited concrete ramps that arrived by semi
-truck from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

After a two-day delay to allow mortar to set,
skateboarders may start using the ramps on Thursday.

At last week's meeting, Pearson invited Grand Coulee
Mayor Tammara Byers to cut the ribbon at opening
ceremonies, and she immediately accepted.

The ceremony will feature a skateboarding demonstration
by Josh Mohs and his team. Mohs is a Pro/AM-sponsored
skateboarder who owns the MLSC Skateshop in Moses Lake.
After the demo, Mohs and his team will stick around and skate
with the local skaters.

The council approved two signs for the park. One would
provide rules for the use of the skateboard area. The second
sign is to be a bronze plaque with a list of donors.

Pearson, who serves on the Coulee Area Parks & Recreation
District Commission, also asked the city of Grand Coulee to
underwrite postage costs for mailing invitations to the ribbon
cutting.

Councilman Chris Christo-pherson quickly reached for his
billfold and gave Pearson postage money on behalf of his
family.

Efforts toward the development of a skatepark within the
district got a bump start in October 2003, when the Town
of Coulee Dam banned skateboarding in certain areas.

A local group of students, assisted by Dale Singer, originally
worked toward the development of a skatepark, and then
brought their ideas to the Coulee Area Park & Recreation
District in January, 2004.

After that group found it difficult to secure grants for a skate
park because they were not a registered non-profit organization,
the recreation district took up development of the skatepark as
a project, starting in July, 2004.

Momentum for the skatepark built through 2004 and 2005 as
the district formed a "Skatepark Committee" staffed by volunteers
to raise funds for the skatepark. Donations for the skatepark built
through 2006 to a total of just over $33,000, culminating in the
purchase of pre-cast modular concrete ramps for the park in August.

ACC - http://www.genesbmx.com/GrandCoulee.html
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