A community effort years in the making is celebrating a major victory as plans for a new skate park in Boundary County move one step closer to reality. 

Supporters of the proposed skate park will gather June 20 to celebrate the achievement after the Boundary County Skate Park Alliance successfully raised the $17,000 needed to secure professional plans for the project. The community celebration will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the existing skate park near the Boundary County Fairgrounds. 

The event will feature skateboarding, music, face painting, cornhole, snacks and family-friendly activities. The event will also serve as the community's observance of National Go Skateboarding Day. While the national celebration falls on June 21, organizers moved the local event to June 20 to avoid conflicting with Father's Day activities. 

According to Copeland, the planned skate park will cost an estimated $465,000 and will eventually replace the current space with a larger, professionally designed concrete park. 

Reaching the first fundraising goal was a significant achievement for the volunteer-led effort. 

"You can't get grants, you can't do anything for a skate park until you have an architectural plan," Copeland said. "It's a major undertaking to do a concrete skate park, and you have to have the right people do it." 

The alliance recently found itself just $701 short of its planning goal before Boundary County Parks and Recreation stepped in to provide the remaining funds needed to move forward. 

The future skate park will be built on Parks and Recreation property adjacent to the current skate park. Once completed, ownership and maintenance of the facility will be transferred to Parks and Recreation. 

The project began in 2022 and has been guided by community input from skateboarders, BMX riders, and other users. The proposed facility is designed as an all-wheel park that can accommodate skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, and bicycles. 

Copeland said one of the goals is to create a safe, well-lit gathering place for local youth. 

"It's going to be really big, and we're going to have lights and have it well-lit and safe," she said. "It's an all-wheel facility, roller blades to skateboards or bikes or anything." 

While organizers celebrate this latest achievement, significant fundraising still lies ahead. Copeland said the group is now preparing to pursue grants and seek additional community support through donations and in-kind contributions of labor, materials and services. 

The alliance currently consists of a small core group of volunteers, including Copeland, Sarah Skinner and Jeff Phillips, along with many community members who regularly assist with events and fundraising efforts. 

Copeland said community support has remained strong throughout the project and that local skateboarders continue to demonstrate the positive culture surrounding the sport. 

"I don't think some people understand what a community the skateboarders are," she said. "They are kind to each other and supportive of each other and help each other." 

Community members are invited to attend the June 20 celebration and learn more about the project as organizers begin the next phase of fundraising for the future skate park