The City of Salem announced Jan. 30 the beginning of construction of Geer Park’s full-sized community skate park. Construction for this contemporary renovation will start in March and conclude in October, according to a recent press release. The four-acre community park is located on the east side of Salem, two miles from campus, and currently has a bike trail, two soccer fields and two baseball fields. The skate park is the first step in the “Geer Park Skatepark and Pathway Improvements Project,” designed to create a safe place for skating, biking and scooting.
The total project budget, now at $4.64 million, is funded through public bonds, charges to private developers and a $500,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Funding delays for the new skate park were primarily due to the need to allocate funds from a bond measure passed by voters, which can take time to be fully dispersed and ensures the project fits within the overall budget for park improvements. The city has not approved the use of its general fund, which is experiencing a significant deficit for this project.
The new 20,000 square foot skate park is being built in response to community input from 2021 and 2022 and aims to support “goals for a more livable and inclusive community,” according to the Salem Reporter. Other Geer Park updates include a paved pathway, picnic shelter, drinking fountains and a small plaza with native plants. The existing soccer and baseball fields will also be renovated.
In the meantime, students have been getting creative with where they can practice their skateboarding skills safely, finding open areas and curbs in and around campus. Jack Godsil (ʼ28), a frequent skateboarder spotted in front of the Matthews dorms, expressed that although the skate scene is small on campus, his friends are stoked for the upcoming skate park renovation.
“Skate parks aren't just like, you don’t just go there to skate. You go there to hangout. … It’s a cool community — maybe the new skate park will weed out more people to skate there and be more motivated to go out and skate.”
Skateboarding has become a positive outlet for Godsil, allowing him to mentally destress after a long day of handling the academic demands of college. “I get restless and tired so skating is a way for me to … get out some intense energy, then I’m more chill and relaxed. It’s a way to humble yourself as well. Part of skateboarding is learning how to fall and get back up.”
Now with the renovations at Geer Park underway, students can look forward to the upcoming fall semester with the new and improved community space outside of campus.
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