Panama City Beach park almost ready to roll

Jul 12, 2008 (The News Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- HD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- HPANAMA CITY BEACH olding the drill bit out in his palm, Brian Kehl explained how his team has exhausted a good number of them. The bits bore nicely through plywood, but Skatelite has proven a little tougher to work with.

"We bought Home Depot out of them at the beach," Kehl said, slipping the bit back into his drill. "We had to go in town."

The drill bits have been sacrificed for a worthy cause. Kehl, owner of BK Construction, is finishing up the Bay County skateboard park at the Pete Edwards Recreation Facility in Panama City Beach.

"My goal is to be done next week," Kehl said.

The BK crew sweated it out Friday in the high-noon heat as they blanketed ramps with sheets of Skatelite, a smooth, speed-fostering, ramp-making material. Headed by his brother, Cory Kehl, the crew has been working on the park for about a month.

Bay County Commissioner Mike Thomas, admittedly not a fan of the sport, breathed life into the skate park earlier this year when he dedicated funds for the project. After years of watching local skaters turn the public infrastructure of Bay County into their urban playground, the commissioner decided it was time for a facility dedicated to the skateboarding.

"People think it's time we did something," Thomas said. "There's no place to do it now except on pubic property."

County officials hope to complete the project for less than $80,000. Except for the specialized work on the ramps, much of the job was handled in-house, using county employees as well as inmates from the county jail.

"The county guys have been great," Kehl said, before assisting his team tighten up one of the ramp's transition.

When finished, the Bay County skate park will boast a series of ramps, launches and rail slides. Kehl said his intention is to construct a park that is inviting to a variety of skill levels.

The park also is designed to blend, allowing skaters to flow from one obstacle to the next. Drop in the half pipe and there are a number of routes to take: go up the other side, drop off the side and over to the concrete ramps or launch onto the rail.

Assistant Bay County Manager Dan Shaw said that when the park opens later this month it will not be lighted, and thus will operate initially only during daylight hours. There will not be a fee charged, but skaters will be required to sign an at-your-own-risk waiver and wear protective gear. The park also will be skateboard specific.

"No BMXs," Shaw said.

Although the grounds are marked with "keep out" signs, a number of local skaters have been poaching the park once work crews have gone for the day. This sort of trespassing has the potential to turn ugly.

"It's not safe to skate right now," Kehl said. "If you wreck and hit one of these screws sticking out an inch, it can really tear you up."

Kehl has happened upon some of these after-hour early birds. Though he discourages their actions, he's encouraged by their action.

"I didn't know we had that kind of skill here," he said.

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