Pablo community celebrates grand opening of new skatepark
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PABLO — The community of Pablo celebrated the grand opening of the new Pablo Skatepark from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. The event featured food from Cheers Etcetera, music by DJ Foreshadow and Salish Drum and skateboarding activities. The warm, sunny day saw a large turnout, with more children than adults attending, which was seen as a positive sign for the park’s future.
Martin Charlo, Pablo representative for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout, stating, “Today’s opening exceeded my expectations, and we had a great turnout. We had more kids than adults, which is always a good thing.”
The Pablo Skatepark was made possible through the collaboration of the CSKT, Montana Pool Service, Montana Skatepark Association, and Evergreen Skateparks. Charlo emphasized the importance of community involvement, saying, “This skatepark is a testament to what can be achieved when communities and organizations come together.”
Looking ahead, Charlo shared plans for future improvements to the park, including the addition of two full-sized basketball courts, shaded areas and facilities for water and restrooms. He said, “Part of what The Montana Pool Service stresses is that you need shade, water and facilities—and we didn’t have those here before, so we’re going to need to provide them.”
The park’s design was also intended to be accessible to a wide range of users. Charlo explained, “We made the park kind of beginner-friendly so families can bring out their scooters, bikes, rollerblades and skateboards and enjoy the park.”
Trystian Buckingham, a local skater and supporter, reflected on the significance of the new space, stating, “There are a lot more skateparks in this area now, and since we used to not really have any, now the kids get to come out and enjoy them and learn something and have something to do.”
