Since the construction of the Concrete Lake skatepark in 2006, Sandpoint’s skateboarding scene has grown exponentially, now ranging anywhere from improving beginners to committed daily locals. It is both a bustling social hub and a laid-back athletic environment for high schoolers, young children, and adults alike. Although this park has provided close to fifteen years of daily shredding, the city and founders are looking to expand and branch out, not just because of inevitable corrosion and damage, but because Sandpoint’s skate scene is outgrowing the constraints and abilities of the current features. 

When asked about the need for more space, local skater senior Olivia Lynch says, “because of the skate traffic in this town, we definitely need more space. The park does not have the capacity for our growing community.”

To fit the needs of this growing sport, the Bonner County Skatepark Association was formed to maintain and construct new parks in the Sandpoint area. Under this association, a 10,000 square foot addition is projected to be added to the Concrete Lake park, but this project is years down the road. In the meantime, there are plans to expand the small rail in Hickory Park, currently deemed “an embarrassment of a skate spot” by 7B Boardshop owner and BCSA cofounder Rory Whitney. 

The ideal new park will be 2,000-3,000 square feet with a more open-concept layout, multiple down-boxes, and a quarter pipe. The goal of this project is “not to create something massive, but more of a plaza-style, family-friendly park that will blend in” says Whitney. 

This project, dependent on community donations through Gofundme as well as potential grants from the City of Sandpoint and the Sandpoint Realtors Association, is expected to be funded within the next year and fully completed within 2-4 years. BCSA founders are planning to have these projects designed, built, and maintained by professionals, not the city, to ensure the most refined and qualified skating environments possible. When comparing Sandpoint’s park to the newly improved Coeur D’Alene park and other spots in the area, Concrete Lake regulars claim that “Sandpoint needs to step up their skate game.” 

Many agree and support the expansion of the Bonner County skating community, and it is only a matter of time until even more ambitious plans arise.