BROOKINGS (8-24-26) — Ribbon-cutting took place today for the newly renovated skatepark in Brookings.
Brookings Mayor Ope Niemeyer said the Dwiggins-Medary Skatepark represents a collaboration between community skaters and city park and rec… “We look forward to continuing that partnership through activities and events here. A special thank you goes to Assistant Director of Parks Josh Bauman and the Parks, Recreation, Forestry team for helping move this project from an idea to reality. Thank you to the City Council for supporting the investment, to everyone else and our city staff who helped make this happen. To the skaters, have fun, look out for each other — and all of us that are walking around in here — and keep rolling.”
Assistant Park and Rec Director Josh Bauman said the skatepark helps enhance the whole area… “A great skatepark can become a destination, bringing visitors into our community and giving people another reason to discover Brookings. So to the skaters who traveled here today — including those who came to share some fun skate demos — welcome! We’re glad you’re here. And to everyone who’s here simply to watch — you’re going to see some impressive skating today, and you might see a few tricks that make you say, ‘how did they just do that?’ That’s part of the fun!”
Brookings resident and avid skater Nick Curry said the park is for skaters of all ages and ability levels… “It fosters a community built on the excitement we all share when someone lands their first trick or their billionth. It’s always 100 percent. It reminds you that progression doesn’t have an expiration date, and that community isn’t built by watching from the sidelines. It’s built right here — sharing the line, taking our turns and hyping each other up. This park was built from the knowledge of generations past. This park belongs to all of us who poured our hearts, our time and our grit into making it a reality, and to everyone who’s going to keep it alive for decades to come — this park is our park.”
The Dwiggins-Medary Skatepark is located at 621 Medary Ave. S., between Medary and Elm avenues — just south of Brookings High School. The newly renovated skatepark is the result of a $315-thousand renovation approved by the Brookings City Council last year and shaped through a series of community input sessions. New artwork for the park is also planned through support from the Brookings Public Arts Commission.
— Brookings Radio News
