DES MOINES, Iowa — At Subsect Skateshop, a topic that comes up regularly is something owner Kevin Jones has been working hard at for awhile.
“This new one I would say has been about 15 years,” said Jones.
The goal was just to get something a little larger for skateboarders in town.
“We were just trying to get a skate park for kids you know kind of a standard little bit of everything," Jones said.
But small dreams turned into bigger ones quickly.
“Just turned into as more people got involved, let’s shoot for the stars."
Thus became the Lauridsen Skatepark in downtown Des Moines.
“We will have the largest skate park in the country,” President & CEO of Catch Des Moines Greg Edwards said.
Not New York, LA, Seattle, or San Francisco. But Des Moines, Iowa.
“I always knew we had a great skate scene," Jones said. "You know it’s a rad city but never once did I thought I mean it sounds crazy when you look at it."
It’s even getting the eyes of some of the sports’ biggest circuits.
“We’ve talked to [Dew Tour] and we talked to a lot of other organizations," Edwards said.
"hey’re excited to see our park once it opens I think there’s going to be great potential they have a lot of interest—in looking at some future events for us."
If Des Moines does land an event like Dew Tour, Jones is sure it would attract a crowd.
“I think we’re more appreciative because we don’t get things like that," he said. "So when we do get those things the people come out for it it’s good and I think a lot is going to come."
But that's down the road. For now, the focus is getting the park opened, slated for May 22.
When that day comes, Jones will be there.
“You may see this old guy with a tear in his eye,” he said.
And then hit the pavement.
“After all these years, I’ll be able to ride it maybe not as good as I once was but I’ll still be able to ride it.”
Lauridsen Skatepark is designed by California Skateparks.