It’s been a long time coming, but the time has finally arrived. The skate park, located at Hanson Park, opens Wednesday (today) much to the enjoyment of area skate boarders.

Last week, several of Sidney’s youngsters were itching to try out the new equipment that’s been put together during the last month or so by city employees.

Todd Ohlin, 13, Cory Ditez, 12, and Cody Taylor, 13, were three of the skaters ready to try their tricks at the park. “I love it,” Ohlin said. “It’s better than a store.”

Louisa Barber | Sidney Herald Todd Ohlin, 13, tries out one of the ramps at the skate park while Cody Taylor, 13, waits for his turn before a sign was posted for them not to use it until it the park was finished.

Skaters like Ohlin, Dietz and Taylor have been skating wherever they can to practice their skills. IGA, Veterans Memorial Park and the CPA office across from Wells Fargo have been regular practice sites. They had also used the ramp at the MonDak Heritage Center for awhile until, for safety reason, were told to leave. Now they finally have their own space.

“It’s better than going to different towns,” said Dietz, who has frequently used Williston, N.D.’s, skate park.

The park’s opening, however, is not without its troubles. The skaters’ eagerness to use the ramps led to several complaints last week to Mayor Bret Smelser and a couple to the police department. Some skaters were using the equipment late into the evening so police officers went to check. Late last week the city posted a sign asking them not to use the park until it was done. The park opened without the fence, which the city is still taking bids for. One bid was for $9,600, and the fence should be up in about two weeks.

The skate park’s opening comes after years of planning and, sometimes controversial discussions. In the early 2000s, the Partnership for Promise Youth Coalition searched for a project that would benefit the area’s youth and out of that came the idea of a skate park. But it didn’t really take off until early last year when meetings were held about the possibility of a skate park.

Location was a key issue as several parks in Sidney were discussed and then discarded. However, it may just have been a tragedy that really propelled the park into formation when skate boarder Hunter Dehner was killed in a four-wheeler accident. His family set up a memorial fund in his honor to go to the skate park as it had been Dehner’s dream to have the park in Sidney one day.

Nearing the end of 2008, a location was agreed by city council, and by early 2009, funds from the county and city were in place and construction began in late spring.

Money still needs to be raised to reimburse the city for the cost of the fence, which will be used to enforce the 10 p.m. park closing. So far the skate park volunteers have raised $1,000. No plans for another fundraiser have been set yet.

reporter@sidneyherald.com