Have you been to Lewisburg’s Hollowell Park recently?

Big changes have occurred at Hollowell over the past few months, and will continue until the spending deadline of December 30, 2021. City Administrator Misty Hill has made clear that she is very focused on improving the park and making outdoors fun again for area youth. Some projects on Hill’s list include a new synthetic baseball field, softball field, handicap accessible bathrooms, overhead lighting, and an announcer’s booth. But perhaps the focal point is an improved skatepark. 

Skating is a rapidly growing sport that received its big welcome at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. 

“It’s like therapy,” says GEHS sophomore James Tilley of Hollowell’s skatepark. “I couldn’t live without it–it’s awesome.” 

Therapeutic sensations are only part of the many benefits you receive from skateboarding. Many skaters experience increased pain tolerance, patience, precision, and overall coordination. 

While improvements to the skatepark are greatly appreciated, a few GEHS students and other locals feel robbed. According to senior Ben Snyder, the new ramp offers “more opportunities for new tricks,” but “we’re now missing half of the court.” 

Renovations to the park were made possible by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.