Local skateboarders use holiday to discuss idea of new skate park in Cape Girardeau

Kash Mouser, who has been skateboarding since the age of 4, likes catching air.

Now 8, Kash and his father, Andy Mouser of McClure, Ill., were among about 30 skateboarders who braved 93-degree heat Sunday and rolled through Cape Girardeau's streets in a skateboard parade.

Andy Mouser, who has been skateboarding for about 22 years, said the duo decided to participate in the parade despite the sweltering temperatures as a two-fold celebration of Father's Day and a more unorthodox holiday, Go Skateboarding Day.

"We don't really care if it's 100 degrees or below 40, we're going to skate," he said.

Go Skateboarding Day is a global event that started in 2003, but Cape Girardeau skateboarders have never hosted their own celebration before.

Christopher "Lane" Quillin jumps a ramp as skateboarders test their abilities at Missouri Park after the skateboard parade Sunday. (Fred Lynch)

"It's different than any other sport," Anthony Cruz, 15, of Jackson said of skateboarding.

Cruz's older brother taught him how to skateboard, he said, and the sport appeals to him because unlike football or basketball, there are no structured practices and schedules.

"It's something that you don't have to have special stuff for, just a board," said Adam West, 15, of Cape Girardeau.

Nathan Themm, vice-president of the Cape Girardeau Skate Park Association, said the group has been trying to raise awareness about the need for a new concrete skate park in city limits.

Many of the skateboarders who participated Sunday said they don't usually go to the current skate park in Missouri Park at the corner of Park Drive and Fountain Street. They said they would like to see Cape Girardeau build a new skate park designed with skateboarders in mind.

"I usually just skate around my neighborhood," West said.

West said the skate park is badly in need of repaving, and also in need of lights for safety.

Another problem with the existing skate park involves gravel from the parking lot getting pushed down the hill into the fenced-off, paved skating area, increasing the risk of injury, said Heather Themm, skate park association secretary.

Building a skate park with concrete fixtures instead of metal would make for a safer park because the current metal structures are showing signs of rust and have bent with age and use, Nathan Themm said.

"It's too small and needs to be concrete -- metal makes a lot of noise," said Dominique Smith, 16, of Jackson.

Andy Mouser said he and his son prefer to use the skate parks in Perryville, Mo., Jackson and Paducah, Ky., to the one in Cape Girardeau, and that they'd like to see the one in Cape Girardeau get wider ramps and better features.

West, Cruz and Smith also said they and most of their friends pass up Cape Girardeau's park for the one in Jackson.

"Cape is like a practice for Jackson," West said.

Nathan Themm said the skate park association enjoys a good relationship with Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation department.

"They're willing, they just don't know what to do," he said.

The skate park association plans to approach the city council in the coming months to present its proposal and design for a new skate park, Nathan Themm said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635

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