With music, food and skateboards, the Sćilíp Skatepark’s grand opening kicked off Aug. 23 in Sćilíp, the community formerly known as Dixon.  

Located off Blanket Hawk Street, the fresh concrete skatepark has a wrap-around track with jumps and obstacles for skaters and two concrete bowls connecting in the middle. Danielle Matt, the Sćilíp representative on the CSKT Tribal Council, explained that putting the skatepark in the middle park off Blanket Hawk was a perfect location.

“Picking the location was easy. It was just meant to be here in the park with everything else,” Matt said. 

When the idea was first presented, she wondered how the small community would be able to fund it. But she said the CSKT Tribal Council was able to find what they needed to complete the project.      Kids skate around the new track during the grand opening of Sćilíp Skatepark on Aug. 23. (Emily Messer/Leader)

In partnership with CSKT, Montana Pool Service, Montana Skatepark Association and Evergreen Skateparks, all made it possible. Matt said the park will need lighting, shade, water and restrooms, all of which will be coming to the park soon.  

Evergreen Skateparks built the park within three months and the skatepark has already been open for a couple of months. Jeff Ament, the founder of Montana Pool Service and co-founder of the band Pearl Jam, designed the skatepark.  

“We’re excited to continue our collaboration with CSKT with the most recent Flathead skatepark in Sćilíp,” Ament said in a press release. “Skateboarding changes lives and we’re proud to know that this skatepark will be a safe community space for generations. It’s one of my favorite designs yet.”      Many people gathered around the two concrete bowls of the Sćilíp Skatepark during the grand opening. (Emily Messer/Leader)

“It's been a huge contribution to the community. We've got people from here, Mission, Pablo and Charlo. It's just an incredible turn out today,” Matt said. “It's going to have a positive impact on the kids for years to come and the kids are our future.”

Organizations supporting the youth and grand opening included DJ Foreshadow providing music and Girls on Shred helping youth get comfortable on their boards. Matt said it’s amazing to see these organizations give back to the youth.   

Nadeen Elispe’ Dumontier, who has been a resident in Sćilíp for the last 50 years, said before she could hear kids fighting and now, since the park opened, she hears the sound of skateboarding every night.  

CSKT will also be building skateparks in Hot Springs and Elmo over the next year and opened a new park in Pablo in May.    Danielle Matt, the CSKT Sćilíp representative, grabbed a shirt from the Montana Pool Service table on Aug. 23. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 Adults and kids skate around the concrete bowl during the Sćilíp Skatepark grand opening on Aug. 23. (Emily Messer/Leader)