EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was authored by Richland Source interen Malaki Stanfield.
MANSFIELD — Mansfield’s skate community came together on Saturday afternoon for a pop-up skate park hosted by Skate Ohio.
The event took place on the Maple Lake Park tennis courts with various ramps and obstacles set up for skateboarders.
Skate Ohio’s Vice President Adam McElroy hopes that events such as this can bring communities together and offer a safe place for skaters to socialize.
“If this event goes well today, we may be able to build stuff more permanently on these tennis courts,” McElroy said.
He also stated that Skate Ohio’s goal is to provide young skaters with quality skateboards and equipment, as well as giving them a safe and designated outlet for skating.
Richland County has several skateparks scattered throughout Shelby, Bellville, Mansfield, and Lexington. In turn, Skate Ohio has begun the process of repairing and returning the parks to a level that is safe for skaters of all levels.
They are not the only ones who are looking to make a difference in Mansfield’s skate scene. Over the last two years, Brasshouse Boardroom and a number of local skaters have been working on a Do-It-Yourself skatepark at Liberty Park on Grace Street.
From building a quarter pipe from scratch to patching up cracks in the concrete, they are looking to create a safe space for skaters of all ages to gather.
Gage Goodwin has been part of the Liberty DIY project since it began and is eager to share his passion for skateboarding with his community.
“It’s really nice having a secondary park on the opposite side of the city for those kids who can’t get to Liberty,” Goodwin said. “It’s also a safe space for kids to go because they are in the park and don’t have to worry about trespassing and all that just to be able to skate.”
Skaters of all ages and levels turned out to Maple Lake to show their support and enthusiasm for the possibility of a new park on the southeastern side of Mansfield.
Toryn Carnahan, a sponsored skater from Tiffin, showed up with some friends and was excited for a new spot to skate.
“I’ve been around the whole skate scene and I heard about this from my friend and decided to come out and check the pop up out,” Carnahan said.
(Photos by Richland Source intern Malaki Stanfield)
