Defenders of Cool Have a Park to Call Their Own with Bachman Lake Skatepark Opening
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Defenders of cool have a park to call their own as the Bachman Lake Skatepark opened this past Saturday. Before city officials delivered any speeches, the overwhelming review of the new statepark was in: “This is so gnarl man” a skater said as he came out of the bowl.
The $4 million facility is the last of the 2017 bond package and it brought the most emotion not from skaters who remember skating at Bachman Lake in the 1980s but from elected officials and park board members.
“The most important people to thank are the voters,” said a visibly moved District 6 Councilman Omar Narvaez. With only 30 days remaining in office, Narvaez acknowledged that this will be the last ribbon cutting during his tenure. “There are so many positive things happening in Bachman Lake Park. Enjoy this, love this. People are going to enjoy this park with their kids and grandkids.”
The sincerity in which Narvaez spoke about the new skatepark was echoed throughout the skaters in attendance.
Skatepark Brings Back Fond Memories
“I made sure to be here for the opening,” said Jason Breaux. While now living in Omaha, Nebraska, Breaux grew up in Dallas and remembers skating at the famed Clown Ramp which was located at Bachman Lake.
“When I was young I wasn’t into group sports,” he said. “At the time movies had skateboarding featured in them and I wanted to skate like them.”
Olympian Andy Macdonald, who skated for Great Britain at the Paris 2024 Olympics, also attended the opening. “It’s great. There’s something here for everyone.”
While he did not skate Bachman’s Clown Ramp, Macdonald said “it was known internationally.”
“I am a Bachman lifer,” said District 6 Dallas Park Board member Tim Dickey. “I’ve been at this park since I was 10. In 100 years there’s never been this kind of commitment to (Bachman Lake) park like there’s been in the last seven years.”
“Most sports are segregated by age,” Dickey said but that is not the case with skateboarding. “What happens in skateparks is relationships. What starts here changes lives.”
Defenders of Cool Make Bachman Lake a Skater’s Paradise
Professional skateboarder Christian Hosoi remembers skating the Clown Ramp during its glory days.
“This park is amazing,” Hosoi said. “It’s full circle.” Looking at the bowl, the tiles along the rim add a level of honesty that skateboarders appreciate.
“It’s authentic to where skateboarding started in empty pools,” he said. “There are also street elements that are great for future pro athletes.”
A professional skater since the age of 14, Hosoi is more philosophical about skateboarding and what having a facility like the skatepark will mean for generations of Dallasites to come.
“We’re fighters for right, for culture and things we think are cool,” he said. “Defending cool is what skateboarders do.”
The hours of operation for the lighted skatepark, 2530 Webb Chapel Road, will be from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, and BMX bikes are all welcome.
