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Dag! That’s one sick skatepark in Barron*

A young skater coasts across the Barron Skatepark.

Translation key Dude \dyüd\ n: Fellow skater Bust \best\ vb: Performs Session \seshen\ n: Time spent skating Dag \dag\ vb: An interjection (wow) Sick \sik\ adj: Skillful

There is a plot of land in the city of Barron, Wisconsin. Like many community parks, it has ball fields and picnic shelters. A sign identifies it as “Kiwanis Park.” There is not a sign that declares, “Welcome, Everyone.”

One is not needed. The people of Barron know that Kiwanis Park is a place of community unity. Most recently, for example, the Kiwanians and the people of Barron worked together to welcome juveniles, also known as adolescents and teens. Specifically, skateboarders.

A group of youth and adults, organized as the Barron Skatepark Association, expressed concerns for youth who do not participate in organized recreation. Kiwanians agreed to help. After organizing various fundraisers, however, the youth were frustrated by their limited success. Kiwanians insisted that the youth should be the sales force.

“Eventually, some youth gained enough confidence to present a program to any group that offered them the opportunity,” Don says. Money and pledges flowed in: US$25,000 from the Barron Kiwanis club, $8,000 from a Rotary club, $3,000 from the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District Foundation, and $10,000 from the Tony Hawk Foundation.

“This is a great example of civic organizations working together along with our city and school governments,” Don says.

The funds, coupled with Kiwanis and Skateboard Association labor, resulted in a grand opening ceremony this past September.

“The skatepark already is used almost more than we anticipated,” Don says. “We have youth from all ages and surrounding communities at the park every day.”