Proposed $2.5 million skatepark covers 35,000 sq. ft. in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lincoln Skatepark Association hosted an open house today to begin discussions on a $2.5 million skatepark.

LSA President Phil Burcher says today’s meeting was the first step to informing Lincoln residents on the need for more designated areas for roller athletes.

The goal is to start the conversation on fundraising and design ideas.

The people who gathered were all very passionate about the growth of roller sports, including Derek Allen, a local skateboarder.

“For me, it’s about being creative, being different, expressing yourself,” Allen said. “I feel like skateboarding has taught me a lot about life lessons.”

Another attendee, Dawson Eldorado, had similar feelings toward the sport.

“It’s the whole idea of having an activity that has no rules or boundaries,” Eldorado said. “To me, it makes it not a sport anymore, it makes it an art.”

Burcher believes a new skatepark would help build relationships within the community and bring in new people to the area.

“This is a place where anybody can go and feel included. That’s really what it’s about,” Burcher said. “We would be making the community stronger and hopefully making the community bigger by inviting people in from around the country.”

Burcher said if the project goes as they hope, they could host regional or even national competitions.

He said LSA has had a couple conversations with the city about their proposed 35,000 sq. ft. skatepark. He said they seemed receptive and supportive of the idea.

The tentative location site it the area of South Haymarket Park.

The next steps for the LSA are to gather signatures for their petition in support of more skateparks and begin fundraising efforts.

“Now, moving forward, these plans can start getting more developed and we can start just basically moving forward from where we are because we’re at this jumping off point right now,” Burcher said. “I think from here on out, good things are going to happen.”