I am sincerely sorry that there has not been an update for a while here at the skateNelson.org site. Being a farmer, this gets to be a pretty busy time of year for me. Still, I have some news. First, the meeting with RVCC did not go well. They, and keep in mind “they” are just a couple of sub-committee members, don’t see the apparent need for a skatepark and are nervous about injuries and liability. RVCC, being a community project, has a large number of committees and committee members. The process of working with the RVCC will be slow and determined. I have volunteered to work on the RVCC Planning committee as well as a recreation sub-committee. I still believe in the site and the need for a skatepark, but it will require demonstrating the need for a skatepark and mollifying the concerns regarding safety and liability. There is currently an RVCC assessment of community need which, quite honestly, will likely come up short for a skatepark argument. The demographics for Nelson lean to older citizens less likely to skate. Becoming vocal will help. Call the RVCC and ask for a skatepark. Convince your neighbors that the skatepark is necessary. Make the skatepark part of any discussion about community improvement. On a brighter note, there is potential for a skatepark in maybe another location in the County. Nelson County Parks and Rec. is showing a serious interest in skateboarding and skatepark development. NCPRD is bringing in a “mobile” skatepark from Augusta county to the Rockfish River Elementary School from June 18-21. Black Cat Skate Team members will even do a demo on Saturday, June 21. This is NOT the solution we are looking for and NCPRD is well aware of that, but it is great they are working to bring a skating opportunity to Nelson County. I can also tell you that they are working to investigate any options to establish a permanent skatepark. Again, being vocal will help. Call the NCPRD and politely say that you support a community skatepark being built in Nelson County and you’d really like to see it happen soon. Keeping the issue fresh and upfront in the minds of decision makers is half the battle. Plus, showing up at the temporary park to skate will go a long way to convincing our county leaders that a skatepark is necessary. Bring your friends! It’ll be a fun way show support for the skatepark cause! More details to come.  Finally, last weekend I attended the “Skaters for Public Skateparks”(SPS) Summit in Ashburn, Virginia. It was pretty amazing. Skatepark designers from across the country and Canada showed their latest designs. Skate-able art and skate spots (small single element skateparks spread across the community) where being touted as the future. Everyone, everyone, preferred concrete to skatelite ramps… though it was acknowledged that ramps have their place. Skatepark design is probably a little down the road for us, but everyone should really think about what they want in a park (street elements, transition,…) and the park flow. Waiting a long time to get a turn in a bowl or ride a hubba can be lessened if a park is properly designed. More on that later, too…– Tim