Building Nederland's Nathan Lazarus Skatepark

Skating nirvana in Nederland. Well, the hippies finally did it. After five years of scratching the dirt for funds, the tiny, pinecone-smoking hamlet of Nederland is opening the Nathan Lazarus Skatepark this Saturday at the edge of the Barker Reservoir. It was constructed over three months by the expert skater...

By Michael Roberts

November 14, 2008

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Skating nirvana in Nederland.

Well, the hippies finally did it. After five years of scratching the dirt for funds, the tiny, pinecone-smoking hamlet of Nederland is opening the Nathan Lazarus Skatepark this Saturday at the edge of the Barker Reservoir. It was constructed over three months by the expert skater hands of Oregon-based Airspeed Skateparks and exceeds just about everyone’s greatest expectations. We’re talking 13,000 square feet of concrete bowls, ledges, a pyramid, a "cradle" and one of the most original obstacles constructed in Colorado: a green-colored, brick-patterned wall thing that adds a whole new dimension to an old concept. What the hell are we talking about? Look at our slideshow of pictures snapped by Nedsk8 director Randy Lee showing the process from excavation to final trowling. – Jared Jacang Maher

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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