ARLINGTON The gunmetal gray skate park in Arlington looks a bit like the Los Angeles river in the movie Terminator 2. The bland color and cold feel of concrete jumps out at a passerby, particularly in contrast with the lush grass of nearby baseball fields. The skate park is not exactly a sight for sore eyes and you probably wouldnt want to take a family portrait in front of it, but for the kids who spend hours honing their skateboarding and BMX biking talents on its concrete surfaces, the park is a welcome landmark in the community.
Brent Duncan has skated at the park for two years and enjoys every minute spent there.
I like being able to get out here and practice. I feel like Im getting better. Its fun to be out here and hang out with my friends, see some of the same people.
Kevin Quinto agreed.
Its an everyday thing. Any sunny day, Im out here. We all get to hang out, everybody knows each other. Were here for the fun of it, not cause everybodys doing it or anything like that.
The boys take turns jumping off stairs, riding the metal rail set up in the middle of the park, or just cruising across the smooth concrete.
Its really close. It beats going long distance to skate. This place has almost everything. Weve got a nice, flat rail. An almost perfect box to jump off. The box was perfect until they tore the marble off the top of it. I wish we had that smooth marble again, said Casey Hake.
Most of the guys simply enjoy being out at the park with each other, skating the same obstacles over and over, trying to perfect their flips and jumps.
Its definitely the best place in Arlington, and since I dont have a drivers license, its the easiest place for me to go. Its got good rides, so Im down here every second of my free time. I think skating is the best sport there is, said Jeshua Dutter.
At noon on a Saturday the park began to fill up with teenage boys to the point where each had to wait for a turn on the obstacles. If Arlingtons city council wonders whether the money to build a skate park was well spent, they need simply to ask any of these boys.
As Dylan Elftman summed it up.
I skate almost every day here. Its a great park and really enjoyable to be out here with friends.
Whats not to like?