Attention all Tony Hawk fans, it is time to break out your old school Vans and Birdhouse skateboard to pull a few tricks in Omaha. Omaha, you say? You guessed it. Omaha is moving on to bigger and better things thanks to Young Democrats of Nebraska and Bykes, Boards and Blades. No more trespassing private grounds to master the trick you've been trying to hit for so long. Skaters Unite Against "No Skateboarding" Signs
by Leigh Carlson
Young Democrats put in a lot of time, effort and persuasion to get a skateboarding park going.
"Every week at Young Democrats we talked about it. We held a concert and passed out leaflets in Roberts Park neighborhood. We devoted a lot of time to getting it made," said Laura Kenny.
If you have noticed the signs lately posting "NO SKATEBOARDS" in areas across Omaha, including Marian grounds, you are probably thinking there are no places to land some of your favorite moves. Think again.
Cruise on your skateboard over to Roberts Park behind Hy-Vee at about 80th and Cass with its new skateboarding area. The park is less than a year old and is already a big hit for youth in Omaha. Leave your bikes on the dirt track, though. The loyal skaters might be a little mad at you. No one in Omaha would build a skateboarding park for "hoodlum" skaters. Well at first that was the case. Families in Roberts Park neighborhood were outraged, but after many neighborhood meetings a skating park was underway.
The park was soon designed by a group of Omaha youth skaters, complete with railings, jumps, ramps, and stairs.
Senior Elise Turille was on the committee for Young Democrats who helped the skateboarding park go underway.
She explained that the skaters are not "hoodlums" (as according to a few neighbors in Roberts Park neighborhood) they are just there to skate. "My friend went to this skateboarding park and they realized it was sticky and covered with oil. All the skaters banned together and bought kitty litter to clean it up. They take good care of it. It's their pride and joy," said Turille.
"It was really cool to see all our hard work pay off in a big way and it is nice to know that people have a place to go and do what they want and not be harassed for it, but rather they can go and have fun in a place that is their own," said Kenny.
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