The new skateboard park built in Carcross by the Carcross-Tagish First Nation was officially opened on Saturday.

Daphne Pelletier Vernier, the First Nation’s communications coordinator, said this morning there were about 150 on hand for the ceremony.

“It’s ready to use and the weekend was awesome,” she said. “It was great seeing all those kids there wanting to use it.

“It’s great to have a place for our youth to gather and do some activities, and to meet up and build self-confidence and pride.”

Following the official ceremony, the Splintered Craft youth centre from Whitehorse hosted a hip hop show and led the scores of youth in painting the park with graffiti.

“The whole bowl was covered in graffiti,” said Pelletier Vernier. “You can’t even see the concrete anymore. It is pretty cool.”

The skate park was named Yáan át l’óon gooch by Carcross-Tagish elder Winnie Atlin. It translates to Look Out Hill.

The park includes a bowl, a bank ramp and a pump track.

The bowl alone is 14.2 metre long by 10.2 metres wide and 1.2 metres high.

The park was built at a cost of $426,400, with the First Nation pitching in $220,822, the federal government contributing $149,578 and the Yukon government providing $56,000. The Carcross Recreation Board contributed $18,000 to provide fencing and insurance.

The local business community also got behind the project. Icycle Sports donated a new BMX bicycle and Canadian Tire provided a garden shed to store gear. Sandor’s Clothing donated two skateboards and Coast Mountain Sports provided a scooter and two boards.

“It’s pretty awesome to see the local organizations and businesses are willing to donate for the youth,” said Pelletier Vernier. “It is really encouraging to see that.”

The logo for the park was developed by Carcross-Tagish citizens Gary Johnson ad Ted James.

In a press release, Khà Shade Heni (Chief) Andy Carvill says: “Our community envisioned this skateboard park for a very long time and we are very thrilled to see this project come to life. Our community needs more space for youth activities which can lead to healthier lifestyles.”

Carvill explained by phone this morning a skateboard park for youth has been talked about literally for years.

There are young adults in Carcross who were talking about it when they were kids, he said.

Carvill said the planning and design work got underway last fall.

“We turned the park over to the people and they went and put their tag on it,” he pointed out. “They went in there and painted their designs. It was a great event.”

There were demonstrations Saturday by semi-pro skateboarders up from Vancouver, one of whom grew up in Teslin. And there were clinics for BMX riders.

Two youth from Mayo came down with their grandmother to participate in the clinics, and there was also a van full of kids from the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.