Grand opening set for Sept. 28 By Cortney L. Hill, Salisbury Post It has become the biggest phenomenon since the X Games began four years ago, and many believe it has staying power. "Oh, it's definitely not a fad,"said Billy Dexter, 22, who builds skate parks around North Carolina. "Skate parks are going to be the new playgrounds in every city." Dexter and 19-year-old friend Phillip Teague race BMXbikes professionally. They put off going to college after high school to pursue their dream of professional biking. Now they've taken their dream a step further by starting their own skate park company called Built Right Skate Parks. And they're currently building the new skate park at the South Rowan YMCA. When finished, it will be the first skate park in Rowan or Cabarrus county, according to Alan Lambert, executive director of the South Y. It will be open to skateboarders, in-line skaters and bikers. "I've been into this sport for 12 years, but I've been a professional BMXbike rider for the past two years,"Dexter said. Dexter and Teague are both from Fuquay-Varina, outside of Raleigh, and heard from a friend that the South Rowan YMCA was interested in adding a skate park. "We were so thrilled to get the project at the Y. We've built skate parks individually, but this project will be the first under the company name,"Dexter said. Lambert, the Y executive director, was pleased to find a company "Right now, our grand opening of the park is scheduled for Sept. 28," Lambert said. "Listening to the many young and adult members talk so much about wanting a skate park, I am glad we are finally doing it, and we've gotten a lot of support from parents, too." Gordon Starks is one of those parents. His 8-year-old son, Cody, is a seasoned skateboarder. "When I first heard about it, I about blew a gasket,"said Gordon Starks, who will drive to the new park from his home in Kannapolis. "I think the park is off the hook and is something I've been trying to push for years. Hats off to Alan Lambert on this one." Gordon Starks said he has gone to town meetings, talked to businesses and collected more than 5,000 signatures from people who support a skate park. He said he's also received hundreds of supportive e-mails, all from local residents. The elder Starks has enjoyed skate boarding himself for 26 years and enrolled his son in professional skateboarding leagues when he was 6. "My son wants to be a professional skate boarder when he gets older, and so far we've been to many competitions in Raleigh, Canada and Florida,"Gordon Starks said. Cody Starks attends Jackson Park Elementary School in Kannapolis. He is on the same skate-boarding team as his favorite professional skate boarder, 24-year-old Mizeael Simao of Brazil. Simao lives in the United States now. The professional team is Team Capital and is open to all ages. They hold competitions in different parts of the United States and participants travel there to compete. Cody Starks will perform at the South Y's skate park grand opening along with professional skateboarders Simao, Autumn Hurts and Ray Golff. Dexter and Teague, the park builders, also will join in the exhibitions and demonstrations. Gordon Starks is also working closely with the Skate Boarding Association of America to add the South Y skate park to the tour list when the association tours the East Coast. "The kids were always riding on the streets, and it was something that we really needed,"Lambert said. "There will be Y staff workers supervising the park at all times, and it is free to Y members." When using the park, skaters and bikers must wear protective gear, including helmets and pads. According to Lambert's research, injury rates for skateboarding are lower per participant than basketball, football and soccer. The Y will not increase its fees for the skate park, but nonmembers will have to pay $10 every visit, Lambert said. Construction began on the park in April, and Built Right Skate Parks began placing the jumps and ramps in August. The company is building the 11,000-square-foot park beside the South Y at 920 Kimball Road in Landis. The park includes a number of wooden ramps designed for easy activity flow. Dexter and Teague have traveled around the United States and Europe as professional BMX bike riders and said their experiences prompted them to form their company. "The parks we've competed in on our travels just weren't good," Dexter said. "They weren't sturdy, didn't have a good flow, and that is very important for a good and safe park." The pair's ideas and resumes impressed Lambert. "When they told me that they'd worked on Tony Hawk's Gigantic Tour, I was amazed,"he said. Tony Hawk is a professional skateboarder and his Gigantic Tour has traveled the U.S. doing exhibitions. "Tony Hawk is like the Michael Jordan of extreme sports," Lambert said. Added Dexter: "Tony Hawk is probably the best skateboarder on the planet. He's like the grandfather of the sport and has been around forever." Until lights are put in, the park will be open Monday through Friday after school until dark and on Saturdays during the day. There are no plans for a Sunday opening. "I've talked to many Ys around the country that have skate parks, and they said their response has been great," Lambert said. "We've been down to different parks in Charlotte, and we're discussing having a little friendly competition for our members and theirs." "We can't wait until the park opens," he said. "This is really going to add to our facility and provide something else for the people of Landis to do." For more information about the park, call the South Rowan Y at 704-857-7011. Contact Cortney L. Hill at 704-797-4249 or chill@salisburypost.com.
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