This highly urbanized city has unveiled the Bacolod Skate Park, considered the largest covered skate park in the country, in Barangay Vista Alegre.
The national government-funded 1,355-square-meter facility was inaugurated Saturday by Mayor Greg Gasataya and Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, in the presence of other government officials and members of the local skating community.
“We’re aligning Bacolod as one of the sports destinations in the country. I just sent this development to Philippine Sports Commission Chairman John Patrick Gregorio, that the biggest covered skate park is in Bacolod City,” Gasataya said.
The skate park and an adjacent multi-purpose center with a basketball court and bleachers comprise the project worth PHP241 million, implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas.
“Plus the basketball court, these facilities are in line with our bid to host the Batang Pinoy games next year. Among others, sports is our priority. There are many possibilities on how this structure from the national government can be used. This can become a training center for skating and other sports as well as a dormitory,” Gasataya said.
Benitez expects a boost among local skateboarding enthusiasts and hopes that Bacolod can produce more skateboarders of international caliber.
On Oct. 11 and 12, participants from across the Philippines will gather at the venue for the MassKaralympics BMX and Skateboard Competition.
“It’s one of the best skate parks in the Philippines now. We have a covered facility, usually skate parks are open. It’s a dream come true for us here in the city. We’ve been requesting for this since 20 years ago,” architect Paulo Gepulango said.
He said skateboarding and BMX racing need to be promoted because these are Olympic events.
“National skateboarding team member Cindy Lou Serna, who’s from Bacolod, trains in Manila. Now that we have this skate park, she can train here and we can also produce more international level athletes,” he added.
Serna, the Skate Pilipinas 2025 tour women’s champion, witnessed the opening of the skate park.
“There are young kids in Bacolod who are good at skating. This is a big help for the skateboarding community here,” she said. (PNA)
