FERNDALE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Serious skaters and casual boarders are all invited to join the groundbreaking for a new community shredding center.

The City of Ferndale will be hosting the groundbreaking ceremony for the future Metalworks Skatepark on Wednesday, April 10 starting at 2 p.m.

It will be located on Second Avenue across the street from the former American Legion building. City of Ferndale spokesperson Megan Juenemann said that the park is expected to open this coming fall. A grand opening is expected at that time.

The project was approved in December by the Ferndale City Council after an out-pouring of community feedback during the Dec. 4, 2023, council meeting pushed for the skatepark’s approval. Juenemann notes that a lot of those community members in favor of the park’s construction were young people.

Due to technical issues, the portion of that December regular meeting is not saved on the city’s website, but Juenemann’s meeting notes said that she saw 36 people of all ages come to speak on the park. She said the speakers swayed a leaning-conservative vote to a near unanimous approval.

“There were so many people in the room that we didn’t have enough chairs – which never happens,” Juenemann said. She adds that the common themes of the speakers were for providing a sense of belonging and a safe space for youth who have “outgrown” traditional parks and playgrounds.

There are only three official skateparks in Whatcom County located in Bellingham, Blaine and the Lummi Nation.

A limited-edition Metalworks Skatepark sticker will be distributed to anyone who attends the groundbreaking.

Logo for Metalworks Skatepark. Courtesy of City of Ferndale.