I found this article here.
BY KEITH UPCHURCH : The Herald-Sun kupchurch@heraldsun.com
Apr 26, 2009
DURHAM — Skateboarders at the Earth Day Festival were riding high on Saturday as they considered what’s in store for them — a downtown skateboard park where they kick things up a notch without fear of harassment.
“I think it’s great to involve the community and give kids a place where they can go,” said skateboarder Tyler Reeder, 23. “It’s a good way to spend some time, and get the police out of the kids’ hair.”
Reeder said he’s been skateboarding since he was 10.
“It’s much better giving skateboarders a place where they can get some exercise and stay out of everybody’s hair,” he said. “It’s almost a meditative activity. It’s just like a game, getting around obstacles.”
Reeder and his friend, Jacob Leonard, 27, also a skateboarder, moved to Durham about a year ago from Winston-Salem to promote their band, Sugar In The Dirt.
“I’m glad the city is involved in what people want to do,” Leonard said. “I think that’s vital to becoming a community.”
Leonard, who has been skating for 15 years, said he loves the freedom of skating.
“You create your own style,” he said. “It’s a creative output.”
A symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the $350,000 park was held Saturday afternoon downtown. The park will be at 502 Foster St. in Durham Central Park, near the new police substation.
Construction is set to begin May 4, and the park is expected to open by this fall.
The park will consist of 10,000 square feet of poured concrete. Features include a floating “quarter pipe,” launch boxes, step-up bank, three to seven step stairs with handrails, a “street clam” and an 8-foot “trog bowl.”
Chris Shepard, environmental educator for the city’s parks and recreation department, has been pushing for the skateboard park for nine years. A skater himself, he said it will be good “to have a free place to skate that’s not just the streets.”
“It’s going to be a good focal point for the skaters to meet up.”
Shepard said the park will be open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. He said it will be open to everyone.
“Whoever wants to skate,” he said, “come on down.”
© 2009 by The Durham Herald Company. All rights reserved.
Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.
Tania
Now, this is what Durham needs… Duke will eat this up. Kids bring life to a city. I hope it won’t get caught up in the full-pads controversy. Go Bull city!
dude i agree with shear man (im pretty sure i know you but i wouldnt say your name.) The ideas and actions of the youth make a city what it is, i think this is a fantastic idea.