A skateboarder shows off his skills at the Lakelands skate spot, which officially opened last month. Skateboarders are required to wear helmets at the skate spots.

The long-awaited skate spots opened late last month at Lakelands Park (1368 Main Street) and Diamond Farm Park (857 Quince Orchard Boulevard), and from the look and sounds of the skateboarding action, both spots are already popular with local teens.

An official sign unveiling ceremony for the spots was held on June 29 at Lakelands Park.

At the event, Gaithersburg’s Youth Services Director Tim Smith brought some yellow helmets for kids to borrow if they wanted to skate because helmets are required for safety at the city’s skate sites.

Several teen members of the Skate Spot Ad Hoc Committee, who helped lobby for the new amenities, were handed scissors by city staffers at the ceremony so they could cut the official green city ribbon wrapped around the skate spot sign. The skaters were joined by Council members Jud Ashman and Cathy Drzyzgula, parents, other residents and two city staffers.

The youngest members of the city’s Skate Spot Ad Hoc Committee also have the honor of seeing their names on the official skate spot sign. The youth include: Issac Gerendasy, Taylor Moore, Grant Norwood, Spencer Nystrom, Drew Thompson, Peter Turley and Matt Wagner.

During her closing remarks, Parks, Recreation and Culture Director Michele Potter said the skate spots are a real example of how youth can get involved in local government and make something happen.

Ashman told the skaters to enjoy the spots and use them well so they can help make the case for the next one.

Although the spots are open for skating, Smith said more improvements are in the works for this fall, including plantings around both skate areas and a piece of art at the Diamond Farm Park spot.

In October 2009, the City Council approved a resolution earmarking $90,000 for construction of the skate spots.