By Helen Borland / Staff

Enthusiastic skaters are organizing a booster club to expand the limited hours at the Roswell Skate Park and keep the budget ax from falling on the only such facility in the city's inventory.

The concrete bowl at Grimes Bridge Park is only open on good-weather weekend afternoons. Skater John Golden volunteered as the booster club president at a preliminary meeting last month to lead a group that will act to catalyze skater parents in the community.

The problem for skaters is that on paper, it doesn't make sense to keep the park open because of finances. But the city Parks and Recreation Department doesn't want to sacrifice the place if they can help it.

Staff supervise the site when it's open.  The cost of admittance to the skate park is pricier on Saturday and for non-residents, but it tops out at $6.

Boosters will hold their first meeting on Wednesday, Apr. 14 at 7 p.m. at Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee at 362 South Atlanta Street. 

Skaters are invited to join action of a different kind three days later at the Great Skate Competition on Saturday, Apr.17. Registration can be completed online at www.roswellgov.com, at Roswell Area Park or at Grimes Bridge Park, 830 Grimes Bridge Road, all from ten to 11:45 a.m. The competition for inline skaters and skateboarders begins at noon. The cost is $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents.

Contact Helen Borland at hborland@beaconcast.com.