Local skaters are getting their own park

Ramps, half pipes, and quarter pipes will finally be installed in a long hoped for skatepark at Erickson Park in early 2024.

Mayor David Olson thanked Lee Tischer, now a Wahkiakum County Commissioner, and everyone else involved in fundraising and for laying the foundation for a skatepark in Cathlamet so many years ago.

“We’re going to finish it and make it better,” Olson said.

The Cathlamet Town Council unanimously approved a bid of $93,000 plus tax from American Ramp Company to build the skatepark.

The town was awarded a $95,404 Recreation and Conservation Office grant for the project earlier this year, which included a town match of $10,601 with $5,658,73 in donations collected by Tischer and other volunteers over the years.

“There was a big group of kids involved at the time, from selling donuts to just about anything you can imagine,” Tischer said. “We had donation jars in every business. Then things came to a halt. It’s so great to see this come to a close, and hopefully all the kids in the neighborhood will appreciate it when it’s up and running.”