CLINTON — People turned out on Saturday for the soft opening of a new skatepark in Clinton which is designed to be fun for people of all ages and skill levels.
The local non-profit Montana Pool Service — which was founded by Montana native Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam — seeks to add skateparks in rural areas so people have a reason to stop and stay for a while.
Clinton resident Randy Katen was one of the people who worked to make the skatepark at Clinton Community Park a reality.
“It’s a multi-use park, you can ride your bicycle you can scooter on it you can skateboard on it. They’re more flowy, with street features which kids like. And it always has a bowl for challenging better skaters," Katen explained. "It’s pretty much from beginners to experts here.”
The first person to ride at the new skatepark was 11-year-old Jaxten Bykari who has been skateboarding and coming to parks like this one for the past six years.
“I saw a video on YouTube of this guy and how he got into skateboarding and then I was like I really want to try that so I got a board for my birthday and then I just asked my parents if I could go to the skatepark.”
Skateparks have always been a way for people of all ages to stay active and form new friendships.
“It’s very true to the word where if we do something when we’re young — and we keep it around in our lives for as long as we possibly can — somewhere deep down we’ll never grow old and that’s the truth skateboarding is the fountain of youth," Katen said.
Clinton will hold a grand opening ceremony for the new skatepark next spring.
