‘I probably started in on this in the late 80s’: Lincoln’s skatepark finally opens after years of planning

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A long-awaited skatepark is now open in the Haymarket District after years of planning and decades of wishing.

The newly named Skatepark of Canopy Yards held a soft opening on Tuesday, drawing hundreds of skateboard enthusiasts to test its ramps and rails.

The park is the largest of its kind from Des Moines to Denver, and was the brainchild of Lincoln skater Phil Burcher.

Burcher has owned the Precision Skateboard shop in Lincoln for more than four decades and is President of the Lincoln Skatepark Association.

He told Channel 8 that he can’t believe this day is finally here after all the planning, designing, and fundraising.

“Well, I probably started in on this in the late 80s,” said Burcher, whose efforts are driven by a goal to share his love for skateboarding with the greater community around him and make a way for the next generation.

Now that the park is here, he describes the feeling as “just intense excitement really. I mean, my body is just buzzing right now because this has been such a long-term passionate project of mine for all these years.” 

Burcher has worked with various groups and city agencies through the years, and says a turning point came when Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird jumped on board.

Gaylor Baird thanked several other Lincoln agencies and said this during her speech: “From the very start, we have aimed to complement this growth with a public space that welcomes Lincoln residents and visitors, supports recreation and tourism, and creates new opportunities for all of us to gather together.”

Burcher says, first on the agenda, “for us to just skate the heck out of it and have fun.”

The next thing is to organize programming at the park.

“We want to teach lessons. We want to put on professional skateboard demos. We want to have contests, and that’s all going to happen,” said Burcher.

How? The same way they’ve reached this point, through volunteers.

“There’s never been a time when we haven’t relied on volunteers, and those volunteers are our community,” he said.

One of those volunteers is Allison Woods, who has helped the Lincoln Skatepark Association with fundraising and community outreach for the past two years.

“It’s astonishing seeing so many people here, too. We talk about the need for a new skate park and the demand, and we absolutely have it,” said Woods.

Some of the youngest skaters at the park shared with Channel 8 their favorite parts of the skating community.

“Conquering your fears and just doing stuff that you’re scared to do,” said Summit Wooledge.

“My favorite part is just like the people I met,” said Jayden.

“I just love skateboarding for getting my tricks and not giving up,” said Carmelo Nesslein.

“One thing I love about skating is that you can make good friends, you can skate, have a session, and this is good, it’s like a good vibe,” said Delas Fuller.

Additional features to be added include lights, bathrooms, and more grassy areas so guests can lie in the shade after a long day of rolling.

The city says the project should be completed in full by the end of 2026 and will remain open from sunrise to sunset daily.