POCATELLO — Area skateboarders, in-line bladers, BMX riders and scooter enthusiasts can now grind, slide, flip, fakie and launch into Pocatello’s state-of-the-art skate park following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon.

The Gate City’s first first concrete skate park was the result of years of waiting and months of collaborative planning between the city of Pocatello and key organizations like the Southeast Idaho Skatepark Association along with the support of area businesses, artists and community members.

The park features a large bowl, quarter pipe, stairs, ledges and rails along with a variety of other skate-able features, all against the backdrop of a rolling, grassy park adjacent to City Hall.

Gathering at Optimist Park shortly after noon, the ribbon-cutting event kicked off with an introduction from Parks and Recreation Director Anne Butler before a series of brief remarks from Dave Van Etten of Skate Idaho, Deckadence Board Shoppe owner Darin “D’Beau” Black and comments from Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad.

“Like the trains that built this town, this skate park connects us all,” Black said. “I believe in growing the culture here with care, with respect, with vision. Like a railway link in distant places, skateboarding connects generations, neighborhoods and stories. It gives us a common memory, a shared past that we could build our future on. This skate park is your skate park. This skate park is my skate park. This skate park is our skate park. Let’s honor it. Let’s protect it. Let’s honor the memories of those who can’t be here today and let’s take care of each other right here right now, on and off the board, because this community right here, right now, that’s what truly matters.”

A portion of the grand opening celebration was dedicated to the unveiling of a plaque honoring Chevy Brandon Nichols, a local youth and avid skateboarder who unexpectedly lost his life in August 2024.

Brandon and Stacey Nichols, Chevy’s parents, were in attendance with dozens of their immediate and extended family members and spoke before the assembled audience before revealing the memorial marker. A skate-able ledge is featured at the center of the new park, displaying a plaque with the words “In memory of Chevy Nichols.”

Local skateboarders joined the Nichols family, and city officials that were essential to the creation of Optimist Skate Park for the official ribbon cutting, raising their boards to the sky amid cheers and applause.

For many ardent skateboarders who have been immersed in the culture for decades, along with the legions of local youth who the park was designed for, Optimist Skate Park represents opportunity, connection and a central place to make friends and engage in a sport they love.

That sense of community was a primary draw for 26-year-old Chris Leonard, who has been skating locally for over half his life.

“(The) Southeast Idaho Skateboard Association, they’ve played a big part in this and given a place and a space for kids to go to feel welcome,” Leonard said. “You don’t even have to be good at skating, you can come here and hang out and most likely make a friend and if not, at least feel welcome. For anyone who’s been here locally for as long as I have, it’s a big, dramatic change, and it’s been a long time coming and needed for our community.”

As with many advocates for the skate park, Leonard said everyone was mainly excited for the bowl feature. Locals will no longer need to travel to Idaho Falls to experience a skate-able bowl and Leonard says that Optimist Skate Park is beginner friendly.

Leonard, as with many in attendance, was wearing a T-shirt supporting Chevy Nichols and his family. Leonard said his desire to support them was another key factor in showing up.

“Coming out here and showing support to his loved ones, especially for his mom and dad in their times of need, being there for them and letting them know that they still have people who have love for him,” Leonard said. “We all look at them as our parents too, they’re just the most down-to-earth people and it’s about being here for them and to support them and all those loved ones.”

Thanks to the efforts of half-pipe heroes like Van Etten and his wife Tatyana, and Black, the Nichols family, the Bonneville Neighborhood Association, Pillar Design Studios, Nick Hottmann and city officials, skaters can now fully enjoy a permanent space to pursue their passions and dreams.

“We’re thankful,” Leonard said. “We have a lot of gratitude. We’re blessed and thankful for the community coming together to make this happen and showing support and love and just having a new place to go.”