He soon connected with others who shared the same passion — all of whom just wanted a place to enjoy their sport.

But, like skateboarders around the Columbia area, Blythewood teens were finding themselves shooed out of parking lots and private property.

The nearest skate parks were nearly a half-hour’s drive from the Northeast Richland town — making them out of reach for many teens.

But things might be changing for Blythewood-area skateboarders.

In July 2006, teens Brian Gross, Matt Yarborough and Paul Watson talked to then-Mayor Pete Amoth about building a skate park in Blythewood.

Amoth told them to collect a petition of 150 signatures.

Within a month, they had 195.

This week, Blythewood council members had a work session to discuss a possible skate park, part of a larger town park plan.

A number of committee members and citizens voiced their concerns about noise and safety issues that a skate park could bring.

“Every time I’ve seen a skateboard facility, it doesn’t appear to have any honor students in there,” said Bob Mangone, a member of the architectural review committee.

“We don’t want a bunch of kids flying around on skateboards while other things are going on.”

Rauch, wearing a suit and tie, later addressed the audience of about 30.

“Skaters are a very diverse group,” he told the audience. “Some of them are honor students, they just want to skate.”

His group, he said, would like a free, public place where teens can skate with each other during the day.

Skaters, Rauch said, could be trusted to take care of the park.

Mayor Keith Bailey said that by not building a skate park, the town still would have to deal with teenagers skating where they shouldn’t.

“Do we want them here or do we want them all around Blythewood?” he said.

“I’d rather have them in a centralized location.”

Blythewood Town Councilman Ed Garrison said several members also support the idea. They could take a first vote on the proposal as early as next month.

Cost and design have not been determined.

Still, Garrison said, “I think we owe it to the teenagers in the community to address that need.”

Rauch, 16, today leads the Blythewood board of Pour It Now, a chapter of the Charleston-based organization that helps communities raise money for skate parks.

“Without a skate park,” he said, “Blythewood will be a skate park.

“That means that skateboarders will continue to skate where it’s unsafe and unwanted.”

In the meantime, Rauch said his group is working on getting a skate spot built as close to town as possible to use while they wait for a possible skate park in Blythewood.

The materials, he hopes, will be donated by companies in the Midlands.

In the meantime, Rauch said he tries to encourage his fellow skaters to be patient and respectful of business owners.

“I think the better we look — the more we defy the stereotype — the more skate parks we’ll be able to have.”

FULL STORY HERE

Reach Copeland at (803) 771-8485.

Get ready for this one! We are currently accepting donations of art, clothing, merchandise and services to auction in order to raise funds for the Owens Field Skatepark in Columbia! This auction might be silent but it speaks loud and clear: We cannot wait to skate this park! Tickets are limited so get yours now! Prices and details to be determined! More details as available.

But, it wasn’t just a chance to show off their skills, the area skaters also got an announcement that could make their dream into a reality.

FULL STORY HERE

With no public skateparks in Columbia, SC this event will help prevent potential injury to children forced to look for places to skate that may place them in harm’s way. The event will highlight the need for a safe place for skateboarders to recreate on a daily basis. National Go skateboarding day is only one of 365 days that skaters are looking for a fun, safe place to recreate. The skateboarders of Columbia, SC can’t wait to skate the new Wally Hollyday Designed park. The only thing left to do is build it. Please spend National Go Skateboarding Day at Fifth Avenue Deli and help us get this amazing skatepark built at Owens Field.

The design and location of the new Owens Field Skate Park approved last week balanced the needs of skaters with the wishes of neighbors upset at the loss of trees during other park projects.

The plan by Wally Hollyday Design features a linear skate park with bulges for bowls and ledges at either end. It would be tucked between the existing baseball field parking area and the forest.

If the skate park is laid out as designed, no trees would have to be cut down, according to city parks planner Damon McDuffie…

Full Story Here

The window ledge was a notable feature of the Claw. Set into the ramp on the left side was a 9’3″ tall window ledge about 3′ wide by 2′ tall. Nick Thompson led the charge to conquer the window with a rock to fakie, and nollie disaster. He was soon followed by Aaron Green and Wes Cobb with frontside and backside nose-picks, respectively. Will Mayfield claimed the highest ride of the day with his front wheels clearing the top of the ramp and touching brick. The sickness was nearly unbearable. But the crowd seemed most impressed with the uncanny and nearly unbelievable skateboarding abilities of five year old, Jack Winburn.

Sporting a youth small POUR IT NOW T-shirt Jack carefully climbed the ladder to the roll-in. The crowd held their breath as the tiny skateboarder surveyed the ramp. He set his board on the ramp and carefully held it in place with his foot while clutching the top of the ladder. The moment could not have been scripted better by a Hollywood writer. As he released his grip and glided down the roll in the crowd sucked in their hesitation all at once nearly creating a vortex that would have disrupted the space time continuum, no doubt, had jack not effortlessly flown up the wall and come back down with the biggest smile a child has ever had on their face. The crowd released their breath all at once in an explosion of cheers and applause. Jack had won them over from their hearts to their pocketbooks. One spectator said, as he put a bill in the donation jar, “watching that kid just inspired me to give.” That’s exactly what everyone did.

POUR IT NOW sold nearly $2000 worth of sk8₂0, but more importantly we delighted the Rosewood Community. Columbia City Council Member, Anne Sinclair and The Parks and Recreation Commission’s Parks Planner, Damon McDuffie were on hand to show Wally Hollyday’s designs for the proposed skatepark and answer any of the community’s questions. City Council Member elect, Belinda Gergel was also spotted in the crowd enjoying the high flying, light hearted antics of the skateboarders. This event put us one step closer to getting our skatepark.