Daily Grind
Community celebrates completed skatepark
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“When people take action, it is an antidote to despair.”
Those words echoed in Kristie Nerby’s head Saturday as she watched hundreds of youngsters zoom around on a world-class skatepark that ordinarily wouldn’t belong in a rural town on an Indian reservation.
But Skate Ignatius was no ordinary project. Six years ago, after two young boys died of alcohol poisoning near Ronan, Nerby and some other concerned citizens started trying to think of ways to help local youth find positive recreational outlets. Through the next few years of tireless fundraising and planning, and dealing with her own health issues, Nerby kept a quotation she’d heard about taking action to stop despair in the back of her mind. And on Saturday, as the Mission Valley community turned out to enjoy the fruits of her labor at a grand opening for the skatepark’s second and final phase, Nerby knew the climb had been worth it.
“I’m actually feeling really exhilarated; it’s like reaching the top of Mount Everest,” she said. “You’re exhausted, but you can look back at what you’ve done … I feel like I’ve actually done something.”
Professional snowboarder and skateboarder Marc “Marco” Frank Montoya agreed after taking a turn on a ramp at the park during Saturday’s celebration.
“(This skatepark is) perfect for this size town,” Montoya said. “(Kristie Nerby) obviously did her research.”
Growing up in a rough part of Denver, Colo., Montoya said he could’ve easily slipped into a criminal lifestyle if he hadn’t discovered his passion for skateboarding and pursued the sport wholeheartedly.
“Skateboarding is the reason I am who I am,” Montoya said. “Without skateboarding, I would have been in jail … I’m sure they can see, but people have no idea what a blessing it is to have this (skatepark) here.”
Especially in a poor rural area like St. Ignatius, kids need to know that “all you have to do is like something a lot and go after it to be successful,” Montoya said.
The Skate Ignatius Skatepark, built by Dreamland Skateparks, was completed July 8, less than a month after breaking ground on the second phase June 14. Four days later, relief came for Nerby in the form of $2,000 from an anonymous donor and another $5,000 gift from the Montana Skatepark Association, which was just enough to take fundraising for the project over the finish line.
In May, Dreamland Skateparks offered to start construction early on Phase II, a 7,000-square-foot addition featuring a large kidney bowl and several new street-skating elements.
“(Dreamland) said, ‘We have a spot in June, and if you’ll take that spot, we’ll knock $5,000 off your bid,’” Nerby explained.
So Kristie and husband Bruce decided to cover the remaining $13,500 out of their own pocket, save the project $5,000 and start construction in mid-June. After construction ended, in mid-July funding was still $9,000 short of phase two’s $90,000 price tag, so when someone called to say the financial worries were over, “honestly, I sobbed for about 15 minutes,” Nerby said then.
“I just couldn’t believe it; after six years, it was over just like that.”
And the accolades have continued to roll in over the summer — not only do locals love the new addition, but Nerby’s heard nothing but good reviews from professionals in the skating world. Pearl Jam bassist and avid skater Jeff Ament wasn’t able to make it to Saturday’s celebration as he has in years past, but he sent Nerby an e-mail congratulating her.
“Most of (Ament’s) friends that he talks to say it’s their favorite park in Montana,” Nerby said. “That was pretty cool to get some props from him.”
