The Friarsgate skate park in the New Friarsgate neighborhood located at 1113 Friarsgate Blvd. is now open after three and a half years of conceptualization. The skatepark is a part of a larger town park which is still under construction with hopes to be finished later this year.

The Rawls Creek Park also has two dog parks with one for large dogs and another for small dogs and a community garden all located on approximately nine acres of land. Marie Ryan spearheaded the skate park project as a volunteer on the Town of Irmo’s skate park committee and told the Chronicle that the skate park “will be intermittently out of use” as construction finishes on the park’s parking lot, walking trails and bathrooms this year.

There are also plans for a playground in the park. Lighting has also yet to be finished so skate park hours are limited to daylight hours only, Ryan said. Once lighting is completed, the skate park and park will oblige by town park hours which is 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The skate park itself is 8,500 square feet and cost more than $352,000, Ryan said. The park was funded by the Town of Irmo using hospitality funds. The town park replaces the former Dutch Fork tennis courts which had been run down for years.

“The Tony Hawk Foundation (now called The Skatepark Project) gave a small grant in the beginning and their timeline for (skate) parks to be finished is three to five years. We finished in three and half years,” Ryan said. “Hospitality tax funds were used for the park and Jesse Clayton of Fifth Pocket Skateparks built the skate park.”

Ryan added that Fifth Park was involved with the community asking for input on what they wanted.

“It’s a park for beginners to enjoy but also intermediate and advanced skaters can enjoy it with the different features,” Ryan said.

There’s also some brickwork feature in the design replicating China Banks Skate Spot in San Francisco.

While town funds were utilized in the skate park fundraising, community partners were especially necessary in raising funds for skates and helmets for kids who may need them.

Ryan points out that Loveland Coffee, Craft and Draft Irmo, Todd Cumalander Insurance and Blue Tile Skate Shop were all instrumental in providing support and continue to donate money for skate supplies. She says a local church, Universal Outreach, located minutes from the skate park provides space for an afterschool program where kids utilize the skate park.

The fundraising and donations from the community partners help provide necessary supplies and also have a full time skateboarding instructor.

Ryan points out that over 80 kids go skateboarding at the park and more than 200 skateboards and knee and elbow pads have been donated to the program.

The skate park has garnered attention from not only the Irmo area but visitors from across the state.