When long time skater senior Lexi Robello heard there would be a meeting on the installation of the new skate park, he said he knew attending would be important.

Robello said he was 6 when he started skating. Robello said he finds it important for the meeting on the skate park’s location to be public and anyone interested in skateboarding should attend.

“People don’t realize we don’t have a skate park anymore. People always yell at us for skating in the streets even though we don’t have a skate park to go to,” Robello said.

According to Jason West, recreation superintendent for the city of St. Louis Park, the skate park was previously located next to the Rec Center but is being moved to Nelson Park due to construction of the new outdoor recreation facility for the remainder of the year.

According to West, the public should have a voice on construction projects.

“We believe the residents of St. Louis Park and the users of the facilities should have a say in where park amenities should be located,” West said.

West said the meetings are an opportunity for skaters to voice their opinions on the park’s location.
“Since the skate park users are the individuals using the skate park, we want to know where they want to skate and what features they would like to see in the relocated skate park,” West said.

Sophomore Shoshana Altman said she believes in the importance of a public meeting because of the voice it gives skaters.

“I think it’s important that it’s public. That way you can understand what people want in the community and it not just being the decision of people who don’t have that much of an interest in it. The people who are going to use it should be able to come and tell what would be useful to them,” Altman said.

According to West, the two potential skate park locations are Carpenter Park, or the corner of Beltline Blvd and 36th Street. He said those planning to attend the meeting should dress prepared for a walking tour of both potential park sites.

West said the meeting’s purpose surrounds building a skatepark the public can enjoy.

“It’s an opportunity for teenagers to make their voice heard with the city and to have a long-lasting impact on a heavily used park amenity in the city.”

West said a location for the new skate park has not yet been decided, but a meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. May 18 in the lobby of the St. Louis Park Rec Center.

According to West, another meeting will be held sometime in the future discussing the park’s equipment and features.