Skatepark opening delayed The long-awaited skatepark at Robe-Ann Park will not have its grand opening this weekend as hoped

Skatepark opening delayed

The long-awaited skatepark at Robe-Ann Park will not have its grand opening this weekend as hoped.

But if enough volunteers agree to lend a hand Thursday, Friday and Saturday, opening day won't be far behind, Skatepark Com-mittee member Jan Firebaugh said Wednes-day.

Because of the rainy July weather and a few other glitches, progress is behind schedule, she admitted.

However, Firebaugh hopes volunteers of all ages -- from preteens to seniors -- will help out at the construction site off Tennessee Street between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"They're really going to be busy the next few days," Firebaugh said of the California Skate-parks crew doing the actual construction work.

Volunteers are asked to bring gloves and wear old clothes and work shoes.

They can report to project manager Brian Kersinger, who will assign volunteers to such details as carrying five-gallon buckets of water to the masons, toting roads of rebar, shoveling or minor earthwork and general "gopher" work.

"It will depend upon age and strength level," Firebaugh said of the volunteer force.

One off the projects younger members might tackle is cleaning the metal coping pipe with wire brushes to remove excess cement.

As far as an opening date for the skatepark, not even Firebaugh is certain at this point.

There is still concrete work remaining and a permanent fence to erect (it's been ordered).

"They still have concrete to pour and then let it cure," she said. "It's best to do it right."

Noting that area skateboarders and skaters are excited about the prospect of having such a facility in Greencastle, Firebaugh urges just a little more patience.

"I'm every bit as impatient as they are," she laughed.