I’ve alluded to this before, but now it’s official. Our neighborhood park, Mabel Davis, is getting a skatepark. The city council approved it yesterday. It should be finished this fall along with all of the “soil remediation” aka “cleanup of pesticides and lead from battery casings that were dumped there when the park was a landfill”. They’ve tentatively scheduled a visit to allow folks in the neighborhood to see how that cleanup is progressing on June 21st. If you’d like to keep up with the progress, check out the Yahoo Group that’s been set up. Note that despite what the City of Austin Summer 2005 Aquatic Brochure says, the pool will be closed this summer because of the cleanup.

Growing up in the late 70’s/early 80’s I would’ve given my right arm to have a skatepark within walking distance of my house. I still maintain that I would’ve beaten out that damn Tony Hawk if only suburban Dallas had anything remotely skate friendly. Hey, allow me my middle-aged delusions. I still remember walking around Valley View Mall and drooling at the skate shop that was at the center near the food court.

I’m hoping my 6-year-old son will appreciate what he’s about to get. I think I’m smart enough not to dig up my old Zorlac and relive old glories once the park opens, but if you see me walking around with a cast this winter, you’ll know what happened.