Finishing up Construction worker Kurt Hollyday puts some finishing touches on the nearly-completed new skate area at Port Aransas Community Park on Monday, March 8. A ribbon cutting on the facility is scheduled for noon on Saturday, March 20. Hollyday is nephew of Wally Hollyday, owner of Wally Hollyday Design, the California firm that designed and built the $287,000 skate area. STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER Dude! The new skate park’s opening soon!

Construction is wrapping up on the skate area at Port Aransas Community Park, and city officials have scheduled a ribbon cutting and dedication event for noon on Saturday, March 20.

Some specifics haven’t been set in concrete yet, but officials are hoping lots of skaters will drop by and skate up a storm for a few hours immediately following the ribbon cutting, said Interim City Manager Dave Parsons.

Parsons said any business that would like to take part in the opening festivities by perhaps supplying food, drinks or other products at booths and tables should make arrangements by calling him at city hall at 749-4111.

About 10,000 square feet in size, the skate area is a located on the southern edge of Port Aransas Community Park, off Ross Avenue.

The $287,000 facility was built by Wally Hollyday Design, a Southern California firm. The head of the firm, Wally Hollyday, doesn’t always personally get involved in construction of the skate parks he designs, but he did in the case of the one that he designed for Port Aransas. He could be seen often over the past several weeks on the grounds of the park, sometimes driving a small bulldozer.

“He’s like the Arnold Palmer of skate park design,” Parsons said, referring to the legendary golfer and golf course designer. “He’s the man.”

The skate area features two connected concrete bowls about four and a half feet deep and a separate bowl that’s seven to eight feet deep. Also in place is a street course that includes hubbas, banks, stairs and other amenities that skaters love.

There are no lights over the skate park right now, but nighttime skating will be coming, Parsons said, adding that light poles will be installed sometime in the next few months.

The skate park was funded by $134,000 from the Regional Development Corporation (RDC), $130,000 from the city’s Facility Fund and $23,000 from city park dedication fees.