Selah skate park to open in June

SELAH -- Selah's new skateboard park is set to open June 21, due in large part to a $20,000 donation from the city.

"I kind of wanted to cry because we've wanted to do this for a long time" said 13-year-old Jose Rocha, a member of the revamped Selah Skateboard Association. "Finally, we got a place to ride."

The Selah City Council voted on Tuesday to help fund the project from the city's daily operating budget. Construction is set to begin later this month.

The plaza-style skateboard park will be built on city property near the tennis courts and Wood Field baseball park. Designed to be family friendly, it will include picnic tables, a new gate and fencing.

The project was spearheaded by the Selah Skateboard Association, a newly organized group that's boosted membership, hosted community forums and raised more than $5,000 this spring. The group solicited volunteers and funding for the project, and it's donating an assortment of grind rails, ramps and other equipment, valued at about $7,000.

The city has been without a skate park since its old one near Carlon Park was demolished late last year. It consisted of a slab of concrete about the size of a convenience store parking lot and was worth more than $10,000.

Because it had been repeatedly damaged and defaced over the years, Mayor Bob Jones and other city officials had opposed building a new one. They've since reconsidered because of the unity and dedication shown by the skateboard association.

Some details of the park -- including rules and a supervision plan -- have yet to be finalized.

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 577-7684 or at esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.