Palmer skaters hopeful new park is on the horizon

July 17, 2007

By Hannah Guillaume/Frontiersman

PALMER - Skaters here are ramping up to build a park near downtown.

Skateboarder Cody Vetter, 17, a founding member of the Palmer Skateboard Association, said the group is about $180,000 away from completion.

The park, to be built from a hard rubber-like material that can withstand an Alaska winter, is estimated to cost $207,000, said Stefanie Vetter, club president. The Wasilla skate park, built in 1998, cost about $233,000.

&#8220I think we were hoping to have it built this summer, but things just didn't work out,” she said.

Cody Vetter would like to see the park built no later than summer of 2008. The proposed skate park will be built and designed by the community and volunteers, including Palmer Mayor John Combs, based on what they know from skating.

&#8220I really wanted the skate park because that would be good for my résumé and I could show my buddies that I did it,” said Cody Vetter, a senior at Colony High School planning to pursue skateboarding professionally.

Alaska Railroad leased more than an acre of land for the park at Arctic Avenue and South Valley Way for $200 a year, Combs said. One carwashing fundraiser could pay that.

The city has dedicated $27,000 for the project after a petition with 500 signatures was presented to the mayor requesting the park. The skate club has 50 members.

Rod Ryan, vice president of the Palmer Skateboard Association, said the organization hasn't held any community fundraisers yet, but is planning to apply for grants from the Rasmuson Foundation and the Tony Hawk Charitable Foundation.

In the meantime, Cody Vetter said that without a park in Palmer skaters have to finagle rides to parks in Wasilla and Anchorage, or trespass on make-shift runs around town.

Using skateboards on city property - including parks, the library grounds, plazas, within 50 feet of South Alaska Street and South Colony Way between Cedar and Fireweed streets, arterial streets and paths adjacent to a roadways - can result in at least an $85 fine, according to Palmer police.

Cody Vetter said he has been contacted by police six times, but has never been issued a ticket.

&#8220They can screw you over if they want to, but for the most part they never do,” he said.

Contact Hannah Guillaume at 352-2284 or hannahguillaume@yahoo.com.