POCATELLO — Dave Van Etten had noticed a problem in Pocatello: the skateparks weren’t good enough.

Van Etten started a foundation in 2017 — eventually rebranded as Skate Idaho — to build “newer, better, safer skateparks in Idaho,” he told the Post Register.

Three years ago, Van Etten invited former Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad to one of the foundation’s events. Blad understood Van Etten’s concern. The event was a hit, but they needed higher-quality facilities.

Fast-forward to last July: with leadership from Van Etten and Pocatello Parks and Recreation Director Anne Butler, Pocatello got its new skatepark.

Now, the new Optimist Skatepark, 972 N. 7th Ave., will host the fourth annual Go Skate Day celebration on Sunday, June 21, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to Skate Idaho’s website, skateidaho.org. The event is free and open to the public.

Skateboarding has made such a positive impact on the community that Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist and the City Council officially recognized Go Skate Day on Thursday.

“I didn’t want it to just be about skateboarding,” Van Etten said about Optimist Skatepark. “I wanted families to come out. I wanted the brothers and the sisters and the moms and the dads and the uncles and everybody to come out, because I really wanted the city to see that it’s more than just a skatepark. It’s a gathering place.”

Sunday’s community event at Optimist Skatepark will promote local businesses through silent auctions and raffles. There will be a scavenger hunt for younger kids tagging along with their older siblings. Live music and food vendors will set the backdrop for skateboard competitions spanning all skill levels.

The street-skateboarding competition will feature beginner, intermediate, advanced and girls groups. Each competitor gets two 45-second runs before a panel of judges determines a winner, runner-up and third place.

Optimist will also use its bowl for a different competition — an open division where Van Etten particularly wants to see skilled riders show off their tricks.

Whether you’ve never ridden a skateboard, have been doing so your entire life, or just need somewhere to hang out as Father’s Day winds down, people like Van Etten encourage everyone to attend Sunday’s event.

“Team sports aren’t for every kid, and skateboarding accepts everyone,” Van Etten said. “It’s OK to be different. It’s OK to be an individual. It’s OK to be weird. The amount of camaraderie that you see at a skate park I think is something that every sport wishes they had.”

Beyond Van Etten’s commitment to improving parks in Eastern Idaho, Skate Idaho has made headway with charitable work. The foundation partners with Angel Tree and Toys for Tots during the holidays and offers two $1,000 scholarships to skaters attending Idaho universities, while emphasizing the mental health benefits of skateboarding.

Don’t worry about falling down or scraping your knee on Sunday — there will be more than enough participants ready to lend a helping hand.