More is to come for TD Skatepark!

Carter Vann (in orange) and Chase Wetherell, the two were the first to check out the new features, rain wasn’t stopping them. Wetherell said he and a friend helped to choose the features.

Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation (NWPRD) have big plans in store for Thompson Park Skate Park in The Dalles.

This morning a two-man crew out of Missouri worked to install the first section of the park's upgrade. Two brightly colored rails, a curb spine, and two bench ledges went in today.

But that’s just the beginning.

The new curb-spine feature

Scott Baker, the executive director of NWPRD said the new features are very fun and colorful, adding some brightness to the park. 

The new features were picked by the local skaters, scooters, and bikes that frequent the park. The NWPRD office in The Dalles faces the skatepark. Baker said he noticed the skatepark was quite busy and saw his opportunity to form some local opinions on choosing the new features to be installed.

Baker presented the park goers with pictures of 22 different feature options and allowed them to discuss and vote amongst themselves on which features were most appealing. 

“The three new features were picked by the skaters,” Baker said. 

The new features installed today cost NWPRD about $9,000. This cost included the delivery and labor for installing them. The crew from the east finished the installation today and all the features are ready to skate! Well, once the rain clears that is.

But the plans don't stop there….

Baker said he has plans on expanding the park in a much bigger way. The same company that delivered and installed the new features designed the blueprints for the skatepark expansion. The expansion includes a pump track that would stretch off the edge of the existing park. In the center of the pump-track would lay a good-sized bowl, with a vert extension on one side of the deck.  

The design made by American Ramp Company for TD extension.

“It will cost approximately $400,000 to build both the bowl and pump-track,” said Baker. 

NWPRD has applied for a grant with System Development Charges (SDC). Baker said he is hoping the grant is approved and funding can be made to begin work on the park as early as spring 2021. 

Baker said if funding is not easily obtainable right away then NWPRD will work with their funding by beginning work in phases, although Baker said they would really like to see it all done together.

The new additions would add diversity to the skatepark. It is mostly a “street-styled” skatepark consisting of ledges, rails, and a few quarterpipes. The bowl and pump-track would bring more transition to the park, pleasing the flowiest of skaters.

No dread, all shred.