Iowa Could Singlehandedly Be Responsible For The Return of Roller Skating

Roller skating, not to be confused with roller blading, has seen a comeback thanks to the pandemic, and Iowa is holding a top position to bring it to the next big thing, thanks to a group in Des Moines.

A new skatepark is being built in Des Moines, called Lauridsen Skate Park.

It's going to be located in the heart of downtown, designed by professional skaters Lance Mountain and Colby Carter, and is intended to be a world-class level park on-par with popular professional parks around the country.

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A career roller skater from the area, Katie Baird, said she's had to travel 2+ hours to reach a decent skatepark that meets her needs, because large concrete parks are difficult to come by in the Midwest.

"It's huge to have a facility like this in our backyard," Baird told Axios. "It's like a training ground opening for us — it's so much opportunity."

Rollerskate Des Moines founder Charissa Thornton-Raysby says the newer pandemic skaters will be able to fully immerse themselves in the sport once the park is completed.

Lauridsen Skatepark is set to open May 22, 2021, and holds over 88,000 sq. ft, making it "The largest open skatepark in the nation," according to the website.

The park will of course be open to skaters and BMX enthusiasts, but it's sure to bring people from around the country to ride the fresh pavement.

Read more at Axios