Skate park opens after two years

      Lurking behind the Henderson Boys & Girls Club, many of the city's youngsters have been doing some high rolling and plans to up the ante lie in the near future.
      But instead of roulette wheels, only the sounds of skateboard wheels can be heard echoing from the club's new skate park.
      The park's November opening came about two years after the club's executive director, Clyde Caldwell, had the project thrown in his lap. It all started after many of the city's skaters were perpetually getting into difficulties with local officials -- getting busted for skating on city facilities, schools and near local businesses.
      The dilemma was to be addressed at a Henderson City Council meeting and two councilmembers asked Caldwell if he would attend the session. Before the meeting, Caldwell met outside the council chambers with many of the skaters who explained their problem of having nowhere challenging to skate without disturbing the public.
      During the meeting, Caldwell championed the skaters' cause. Now, two years later, the opening of the skate park has made Caldwell a hero to the local skating community. Many skaters credited Caldwell with sticking by them when no one else with any authority or connections would.
      "I think this is the greatest thing," said 16-year-old Brooke Murray. "I think Clyde's put a lot of effort into it. And I know for a fact everybody at the city of Henderson thought he was just fooling around with it. He did a really good job putting it together."
      Shortly after beginning talks with city officials on how to solve the problem, Dean Pascucci teamed with Caldwell to create the 5,000-square-foot park. Phase one of the project, which consists of the wooden ramps that now make up the park, cost $25,000 and opened for the skaters in November.
      Three more phases are slated for the park's development, which Caldwell hopes can be completed by the end of the year. Eventually the wooden ramps will give way to permanent concrete ramps and an urban street course, complete with benches, stairs and railings, will be added. Plans for the final phase include a 10 1/2-foot vertical ramp and spectator facilities. Currently, the tallest ramp at the park is seven feet.
      While local skaters are thankful for the opportunity to skate without being bothered, many complained about the park's surface.
      Caldwell said he is currently negotiating with different companies about resurfacing the park, which is visited by about 40 skaters on a daily basis. He said the resurfacing and ground breaking for the rest of the second phase will begin in about two months and hopefully will be completed by summer.
      Pascucci, a skater for 12 years and the park's chief designer, said he hopes to create one of the most unique parks in the United States.
      "By the time it's all done, we hope to have a facility that induces commercial events, like MTV and the X-treme Games, stuff of that caliber," he said. "We want to bring them in here so we can benefit financially and expose the local kids -- a lot of whom are being introduced to a new sport -- to a high caliber of sportsmanship. It's something Clyde and I have dreamed of doing."
      The club recently hosted its first skate competition in early January, with about 35 skaters taking part. While the number of competitors remained relatively strong, the park was packed with about 300 observers.
      Caldwell said the skaters have been well-received at the club and have not caused any problems. He said the amount of respect they have shown to the club and the park has been commendable.
      "We're dealing with a whole different realm of kids," Caldwell said. "The Boys & Girls Club has traditionally been basketball, wrestling and arts and crafts. But with this park, we've brought a whole different attitude.
      "And you know what, I have not heard of one incident where skaters or rollerbladers have gotten into an argument or destroyed any property since it's been open."
      The main obstacle to opening the park was the liability issue, which delayed the use of the park for months. Insurance for the park currently costs about $6,000 per year, but both Pascucci and Caldwell said they don't anticipate having to file any claims anytime soon.
      "There's been injuries," Pascucci said. "But Clyde or I will never know about it because it's all kept in the skating community. They limp off and take care of themselves.
      "There's been no accidents reported, and there probably never will be. É There's a lot to the whole skating lifestyle and everything about it. They're not going to jeopardize that. They're not going to be held responsible for closing down a skateboard park. Everyone knows what's at stake."
      "They appreciate the fact that they have a place to go so much that I seriously think the last thing on their minds is holding the club liable," Caldwell said.
      David Blair, an 18-year-old skater, said the skaters are just happy to have a place they can call their own.
      "Usually we'd skate schools and the cops would get pretty mad," he said. "So now, with the skate park, we're not getting in trouble."
      With an admission fee of $2, the park is reasonably priced for many kids. However, just like with any other Henderson Boys & Girls Club event or function, the fee is waived for kids who can't afford the charge.
      Caldwell said the club is currently seeking donations for equipment, such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, and park sponsors. To contact Caldwell or the club, call 565-6569.