Crestview’s Eglin Federal Credit Union Skatepark nearing completion

CRESTVIEW — The county seat’s long-awaited skatepark is rapidly approaching completion just three months after its Feb. 27 groundbreaking.

City officials have set a grand opening for Saturday, June 5.

Looking east from Brookmeade Drive, Crestview’s Eglin Federal Credit Union Skatepark takes shape. In the background is the already popular B&T RC Racetrack.

Workers smooth concrete in the half-bowl area of Crestview’s new skatepark on April 6.

While the initial concrete work is complete and makes for a tempting run, officials caution that the Eglin Federal Credit Union Skatepark is still fenced off and is not yet open, with more work remaining to be done.

The public/private partnership leading to the facility’s realization was spearheaded by Josh and Tiff Moen, owners of Hub City Skate. With a donation by Eglin Federal Credit Union, the more than year-long fundraising effort came to fruition.

The $350,000 park is situated on city land on Brookmeade Drive next to Crestview Fire Department Station 3 and will be maintained by the Crestview Parks and Recreation Department.

Earlier in April, a construction worker checks the alignment of coping along the top edge of one of the Crestview skatepark’s banks.

Some skaters are so eager to try out the city’s new skatepark that they gave it a few after-hours test runs, requiring the city to fence off the construction site.

Down the hill from the skatepark is the B&T RC Racetrack — also created through a public/private partnership — making the recently vacant property a new focal point for residents’ recreational opportunities.

With reinforcement bars in place, workers prepare to pour more concrete to complete the central portion of the city’s skatepark in early April.

Within weeks, the skatepark’s variety of pump bumps, rails, ledges, hips, bowls, stairs and banks will welcome skaters of all ages and experience levels. The grand opening will include food vendors, a skate tournament and information from local suicide prevention awareness groups.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview’s Eglin Federal Credit Union Skatepark nearing completion