PORT ANGELES — After years of planning, fundraising and construction, the ceremonial ribbon was cut Saturday afternoon on the new Port Angeles skate park amid hundreds of onlookers.
However, Port Angeles skaters won’t get a chance to try out the park until today.
City and state officials were on hand at Erickson Park, along with Nor’Wester Rotary members, who expressed relief that the project was almost finished.
“Three years ago the skate park was an idea that was going nowhere,” said Gary Smith, Rotary president.
In addition to the ceremonial christening of the three-bowl skate park, a dozen professional skateboarders from Lib Technologies Skateboards demonstrated how it is done, six bands played punk rock, auctions were held and raffle tickets were sold.
“They didn’t have this when I was growing up here,” said Patrick Irwin, 32, a Rotary member and Port Angeles lawyer.
State Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, came out for the ceremony and complimented the community for coming through with the park.
“This has got to beat the Safeway parking lot,” Buck said.
