Two weeks ago, around two dozen skaters hammered the pieces for skate ramps together for the new Wildomar Skate Park at Cornerstone Community Church. On Saturday, December 8, 2007 over 50 skaters tested the new ramp construction practicing ollies, 360’s and other tricks as they cruised between the ramps and rails with complete freedom throughout the day of the skate park’s official grand opening.

It was a dream come true for local skaters as they glided in between each other without interference or interruption. The only threat on this chilly day was from the storm clouds overhead, not from merchants at nearby shopping centers asking skaters to leave the premises. The quest for a skate park began about fifteen months ago when Elsinore High School sisters Mickylene, 17, and Priscilla Delgado, 15, decided to take matters into their own hands and ask the community for a skate park for local teens. A petition was drawn up and the sisters and other skaters lent their footwork to gathering signatures. Over 1,037 have been secured to date. The Delgado sisters became fixtures at local town hall and park meetings, Easter egg hunts and other community events bringing their cause to the public for the past year. The Wildomar Skaters committee was created a few months ago to help with fundraising. But, it was a common assumption that a skate park wouldn’t materialize for a few more years without an available property or the purchase of land.

The timeline was sped up dramatically recently when a local skateboard manufacturer, Jonathon Mills of Glory Skateboards combined his inquiries to build a skate park at Cornerstone Community Church with the vision of the Wildomar Skaters committee.

"This wouldn’t have happened without Cornerstone and Glory Skateboards," said Priscilla as groups of skaters took turns using the ramps, "If we didn’t have them, we would’ve been waiting forever." Her sister Mickylene added, "We would’ve been waiting for years." Fellow skater and Elsinore High student, Josh Conyers, agreed, "We would still be out on the streets."

The three groups joined forces to iron out construction and insurance matters in order to construct and store the portable skate ramps on the basketball court at Cornerstone Community Church within weeks.

After a day of skating to piped music, live band Attic Light Theory, competing in skate contests, and snacking on pizza and refreshments, teens gathered around Mills Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] to hear his story of how Glory Skateboards was created eight years ago. He said he felt called by God at age 25 to quit his lucrative job and lifestyle as a corporate manager and start a skate ministry and build skate parks throughout the country. "I knew that the things I was doing with the money wasn’t honoring God," he told his audience, "I also knew I wanted more for my life."

Although the skate park is on church property, the new facility is open to the public. Basic ground rules include no alcohol, no drugs, no swearing, no fighting, no smoking, and helmets are required. A liability waiver is also required.

"I was really happy about this because we drive all the way to Orange County," said Ruth Cruz, a Cornerstone Community Church youth group leader. She used to take her kids to the Murrieta skate park on California Oaks but stopped because she saw teens drinking and smoking there. "And this is just right around the corner," she said.

Local teens plan to take advantage of the skate park at Cornerstone Community Church, 34570 Monte Vista Drive, which is now open from Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. until dark or 5 p.m., and 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The work is not completely finished for the Wildomar Skaters committee and skate park supporters. Both of the Delgado sisters were selling hot chocolate at the Breakfast with Santa a couple hours earlier to raise the $1500 costs for annual insurance for the new skate park. They also would like to lobby for the construction of a combination bike and skate park for BMX riders in the area. Mills is planning to open a 6,000 square foot indoor skate park in Lake Elsinore in 2008.

Although the new skate park is now operational, some skaters still plan to visit their old haunts such as the Del Taco off Clinton Keith Road, they said. "Just for the food though," said Anthony Alvero, 16. Added Conyers," We’ll come over here after we’re done eating."

For more information on the Wildomar Skaters and to download a copy of the liability waiver and skate park rules, go to www.wildomarskaters.org. For more information on Glory Skate Ministry, the Lake Elsinore indoor skate park and skate camps/membership , go to www.gloryskateministry.com or call Jonathon Mills at (909)569-2565.