The design for the state-of-the-art Barb Iverson Skate Plaza that is set to be completed by June 2024. (Photo used with permission by Keloland.)

A middle school teacher’s legacy of tenacity, compassion and kindness will be memorialized at Nelson Park in Sioux Falls’ new state-of-the-art skatepark, The Barb Iverson Skate Plaza, this coming June.

Barb Iverson was a teacher at PHMS for 30 years, but more importantly, she went above and beyond to become her students’ biggest advocate and inspiration. Her passion for skateparks originated  from assisting a student in building a miniature skatepark in their backyard, which led her to promote the first one in Sioux Falls. 

“Before Sioux Falls had a skate park at the turn of the century, Scholten [Iverson’s student] would buy and build ramps in his backyard that he and his friends could use. Iverson donated hundreds of dollars to purchase the ramps and would drive the ‘disaffected teenagers’ to skate parks in Des Moines when Sioux Falls lacked a venue. She was an advocate for the first skatepark built near Drake Springs and a second at Kuehn Park,” said Makenzie Huber, a journalist for Pigeon 605. 

Iverson’s legacy led for “Let’s Skate,” a Sioux Falls skateboarding organization, to advocate for increasing awareness through teaching and building more parks. After several years of fundraising, they partnered with an experienced Canadian based company, “New Line Skateparks” who will aid them in the design and development. 

“​​[New Line Skateparks] is focused on creating engaging environments, while thoughtfully integrating the needs of a community.  Their one-of-a-kind parks provide world-class terrain, while celebrating art, diversity, sustainable development principles, structural longevity and strong connections to surrounding amenities,” said Let’s Skate. 

The park will also have a variety of commodities, permitting skaters of all skills to participate in this expansive park. Both new and experienced skaters will be able to have fun while simultaneously learning new tricks and improving their skills.

“The state-of-the-art park will feature a flow bowl area with spaces designed for skateboarders of all abilities, including an advanced section, a rock terrace feature, street plaza lane and grind rails,” said Em Powers, a journalist for Pigeon 605. 

While the commodities the park provides benefit skateboarders of all levels, it will also cater towards those who participate in other activities, such as biking and rollerblading. 

“Not only will skaters be able to use this park, it’ll be aimed toward bikes and rollerblades and other activities,” said Gracie Terrall, a journalist for Keloland. 

Most importantly, the Barb Iverson Skate Plaza will provide students an outlet to express themselves in, release stress and connect with others. All citizens will be able to enjoy the scenic, beautiful skatepark and improve their personal skating skills; however, for impoverished students the park will provide much more, notably a temporary separation from their hardships, lessons of perseverance and a reliable community. 

“A lot of kids that come from broken homes or impoverished homes will have opportunities to get out into the community and have a good time and develop creative skills to resiliency and mentorship,” said Portz, Let’s Skate founder, according to Gracie Terral, a journalist for Keloland. “All of that is fostered in a skatepark kind of naturally, especially if you have a big, new, nice skatepark that really gives a lot of opportunities for kids to grow and learn and meet other people in the community.”

The lasting impact the skatepark will have on Sioux Falls’ youth truly memorializes Iverson’s legacy of compassion, generosity and kindness, especially towards those struggling. The skatepark provides students, along with all citizens, a place to discover themselves and a community to support them, aligning with what Iverson gave each of her students. 

“On a broader and more important level, this is a place where kids can come and be accepted and seen,” said Baxter, a former student and close friend of Iverson, according to Makenzie Huber, a journalist for Pigeon 605. “Barb’s gift was in seeing people and celebrating them and helping them understand they can celebrate themselves. Her delight in the everyday was so contagious. I hope people remember that here.” 

Ultimately, the Barb Iverson Skate Plaza will be an incredible institution when it is completed in June 2024. Not only will it provide skateboarders, bikers and rollerbladers with ample resources to improve their talents, it will be memorializing Iverson’s legacy through permitting Sioux Falls’ youth an outlet to express themselves in.