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Skateboarders took to the makeshift skate park with enthusiasm and efficiency at Village Market in Viroqua, Sunday afternoon.
American Ramp Corporation (ARC) had set up the park demonstrating some of its equipment. The event drew about 50 skaters and about 150 onlookers from 2-5 p.m.
Kids ranging in age from five into their older teens, rode on skateboards and scooters, trying all sorts of different tricks.
“It was a really good set up,” skater Ryan Schmidt, 13, of Viroqua, said. “It was pretty fun, a little crowded, but I stayed there the whole time. It was pretty nice.”
No adult choreographed the happenings, the kids just lined up and did their thing.
"I was really excited and happy with the turnout," Terry Noble, who is organizing the construction of a skate park in Viroqua, said. "I thought it went really well. I thought there would be a lot of lines and we'd have to have adults out there to direct traffic, but I was amazed at how the kids regulated themselves."
The set up was similar in size and scope to what Viroqua has planned to construct near the Park Bowl. Noble said $18,000 has already been raised to complete phase one of what will eventually be a $70,000 park. This August a concrete pad will be poured at the site. Next June equipment will be added.
"We've already reached the $18,000 mark and we have a whole year of fund-raising ahead of us," Noble said. "Depending on what we raise between now and then, we could add a half-pipe and other pieces."
ARC is based in Joplin, Mo., and Darius Green set up the demonstration. He had come from Havana, Ill., the day before and has been touring the Midwest since May.
"We visit a lot of towns with less than 10,000 people and they are the most active at putting in these parks," Green said. "It might seem weird, but the smaller towns mobilize faster because a group of residents is interested in giving kids a safe place to skate. They raise money and build skate parks."
Green designs the parks and equipment that goes in them. Then he takes parts of the parks out on tour for research and development.
"The way we build them is in sections, so it's easy to start small and add as you go," he said. "That's the plan (in Viroqua)."
For more information on the Viroqua skate park plan, go online to www.viroqua-wisconsin.com
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