Salmon, Idaho Skatepark GeoTech Survey

The Salmon Skatepark Association has teamed up with Grindline Skateparks and the City of Salmon is on board!

We have fundraised for and paid for design plans -which is currently in the works. Our next goal is to pay for the landscape architecture and civil engineering components of the skatepark which will cost $15,000 in total. We are currently halfway there and have about $7,000 left to go. Please help us reach our goal by donating today!

Skateboarding is cited as the third biggest interest for teenagers in the United States (The Skatepark Project). Skateboarding provides many benefits to youth and the greater community.

Studies have shown that youth partaking in extracurricular activities and hobbies are often less likely to engage in underage drinking and drug use. Additionally, skateboarding is being used and studied as a valuable approach to helping children with trauma increase emotional regulation and decrease social distress. Studies have shown that skateparks help make healthy communities and increase positive social behavior in youth.

The current Salmon skatepark is cracked with unlevel cement and rough surfaces, offering little opportunity for advancement. Several young people have told the Salmon Skatepark Association Committee that they have never been to another skatepark, even though they use their local one almost daily, since the next skatepark is over an hour away. A survey conducted by the Aspen Institute and Utah State University found that only 38% of kids aged 6 to 12 played team sports on a regular basis, down from 45% the previous decade with high cost thought to be a contributing factor.

Children from low-income families are half as likely to play sports as children from higher incomes. About 20% of our community is at the poverty level. Skateboarding is one of the lowest-cost sports and often catches children and youth who are not drawn to traditional sports. Skateparks often become a haven for children and teens, even serving as a home away from home. They are more popular than ever, creating a space for youths, who may not be drawn towards traditional team sports, to participate in physical and social activity. They keep individuals active and in the public. Additionally, skateboarding became an Olympic sport in 2020.

In Salmon, Idaho skateboarding is a popular activity demonstrated by the youth turnout at Salmon Skatepark Association events including an annual Go Skate Day event, applications for discounted or free skateboards, and participation in a free skateboarding clinic. The youth in our community deserve to be seen and have a safe high-quality community space to use. All children and youth deserve to participate in affordable sports and recreation, even if they live in an isolated rural community.

The committee is working with the City of Salmon and has had land at the City Park allocated to build the future skatepark. They are finalizing their construction design plans with Grindline, a professional skatepark construction company. They are a passionate and tenacious group who are dedicated to building a modern skatepark for their community.