For Matt Kaiser, Brady Evenson and Kyle Nasby, having a skate park in Albert Lea will make practicing their sport much easier.

Sunday, May 27, 2001

For Matt Kaiser, Brady Evenson and Kyle Nasby, having a skate park in Albert Lea will make practicing their sport much easier.

&uot;We usually drove to Mankato or Austin or some other town with a park,&uot; said Evenson. But the local skaters sometimes resented having visitors, he added.

Now, with an impressive set-up centrally located at the Channel View Courts, the three middle schoolers can practice their sport several times a week. And they won’t have to feel like trespassers.

&uot;It’s nice,&uot; Kaiser said. &uot;It’s gonna be good skating here.&uot;

Nasby, who prefers rollerblades, said he’s willing to follow any rules for the privilege of skating on the launch box and two quarter-pipe ramps.

&uot;We can’t swear, or litter and we’re supposed to wear a helmet all the time,&uot; Nasby said. &uot;I guess that’s all right.&uot;

The skate park opened Saturday afternoon after a ceremony honoring the volunteers, donors and skaters who helped make the facility possible. Founder Stan Sevaldson said the park will finally give dozens of Albert Lea youth a safe and supervised place to skate.

&uot;All of this work is for them,&uot; said Sevaldson who has worked on the skate park project for the last year. &uot;These kids are terrific.&uot;

Mayor Bob Haukoos, joined by city council members Al Brooks, Mary Kron, George Marin and Dave McPherson, came to see the skaters perform Saturday. Haukoos said the park is a temporary location. Next year the skaters will have a permanent park in the city, though the exact spot has yet to be decided.

&uot;We’re going to take care of that this summer,&uot; Haukoos said. &uot;We’ll work with the skating people to figure it out.&uot;