The sound of scrapes on the concrete, with plastic and rubber wheels turning and feet kicking the ground, could be heard from yards away as people walked up to the skate spot in Cates Creek Park. On a clear and sunny Saturday morning, dozens of skateboarders — as well as a few scooter-riders and roller-skaters — gathered around the concrete bowl to watch some tricks and try some of their own.
The event was the town government’s formal grand opening and celebration of the skate spot, which had been in the making for several years by Hillsborough and whose skateboarding community has asked for across two decades. Between skating drops into the pocket park, people sipped coffee and munched on donuts and breakfast burritos. Later, some of the more seasoned skaters put on demonstrations of certain tricks for the others of varying skill levels to try.
Robb English, who is the mayor pro tempore of Hillsborough, said he knew this park was going to be well-received based on the interest from the local skate community. He recounted to the gathered crowd seeing a group of older kids once offer reconditioned boards to younger children in his neighborhood so that they could learn how to skate — adding he believes it reflects the passion around the sport and the willingness to expand it.
“I love the skate community,” English said. “It’s one of the communities that most inclusive, most diverse — they care about their space, they care about people.”
Hillsborough community members and skateboarders gather to hear comments from the town’s elected officials and planners who helped make the skate spot happen during its opening ceremony on Saturday, September 28.
Skaters stand on the wall to watch others take on the skate spot in Cates Creek Park.
The skate spot itself was designed by 5th Pocket Skateparks, which used the local skaters’ ideas and wishes to come up with its final layout. There are quarter pipes, ledges, ramps and grind rails, as well as plenty of space to watch from the wall. Construction on the project finished in July — with some local skaters testing it out right away. The grand opening ceremony was pushed to September in order to gather some of the skating community leaders together and to put the finishing touches on the sidewalk leading people to and from the parking lot.
Stephanie Trueblood, the public space and sustainability manager for the Town of Hillsborough, said while the idea of a skate park has long been supported, the energy behind the effort waxed and waned over the years.
“There were times where mostly teens and their parents would come to the [Parks and Rec] board or serve on the board and they would give this idea of a skate park. What happens when teens are trying to advocate, they’re really gung-ho in the beginning — but then they get jobs, they get their driver’s license, they go off to school, and a project will lose momentum. That happened several times of the years.
“About ten years ago,” Trueblood added, “the Parks and Rec board decided to make it a priority of the board and they put it into their master plans and made it one of the main topics they wanted to carry, inviting in feedback from teens and the skate community.”
Another hurdle for the project was finding the right spot to put the park. Trueblood said for years, the town and Parks and Rec board aimed to have the park close to downtown in order for as many people to have access to it as possible. But after striking out for several years, the group shifted its focus and landed on Cates Creek Park — which is, ultimately, worked out well.
“We had Cates Creek already in town ownership,” said Trueblood. “We had this perfect spot that already had a drainage system, it had a bathroom, it had handicap accessible parking — it had all the site features that we needed to support a skate park.”
Additionally, Trueblood said the town is testing out a public art option — installing boards to the side of the park for people to spray paint and express themselves while avoiding any hate speech or inappropriate messages.
The Town of Hillsborough’s hours for Cates Creek Park and the new skate spot are 7 a.m. to 30 minutes past sunset each day. More information about the park and its rules can be found on the town’s website.
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