Granby celebrates new climbing wall and Go Skateboarding Day (with photos)
Emily Gutierrez/Sky-Hi News
On Friday, June 21, people of all ages visited Polhamus Park in Granby to celebrate the new climbing wall, Go Skateboarding Day or to simply have a plate of the town’s free barbecue.
Building the climbing wall was a five-year-long endeavor, according to Chris Michalowski who is a Never Summer Senders coach and Granby trustee. The Never Summer Senders is a youth climbing team and nonprofit group based in Grand County. They were not only huge advocates for the project, but also spearheaded fundraising efforts when the project’s costs far exceeded the town’s budget.
The wall likely wouldn’t exist without the group’s fundraising efforts.
The Senders delivered a $63,000 donation check that went towards building the wall last June. There is a small golden plaque on the wall that states, “The Grand County climbing community would like to thank the following supporters: Town of Granby, Royal Oak, Granby Ranch, Granby Rotary, Grand Foundation, Mountain Parks Electric, Never Summer Senders, Tim Schowalter and Pam Gilbert.”
“Today is really exciting. It’s just awesome to see people using it,” Chris said. “It’s cool to have a mountain sport in our town. We live in the mountains and we should embrace that. It’s awesome to see kids who maybe aren’t team sport kids, they’re just like flies to honey with this thing.”
Quinn Michalowski, 8, is a Never Summer Sender and says that the coolest part of the wall is the two sides with different difficulty levels.
“There’s two sides and one side is easier for the people that are kind of new to climbing. Then the other side is kind of harder for the people that want to get better and know more about (climbing),” Quinn said.
On the other side of the park, people were celebrating Go Skateboarding Day at the Granby skate park. Kids and adults alike rode their skateboards, scooters and bikes along the park’s ramps and rails.
The town also hosted a free barbecue for attendees and handed out hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, popsicles and drinks.
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A climbing rope was cut in lieu of a ribbon for the boulder wall’s offical opening.
Emily Gutierrez/Sky-Hi News
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The town of Granby held a free barbecue for attendees.
Emily Gutierrez/Sky-Hi News
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The Granby skate park is located at Polhamus Park, across from the library.
Emily Gutierrez/Sky-Hi News
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Children climbing the bouldering wall in Polhamus Park in Granby.
Emily Gutierrez/Sky-Hi News
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Skaters of all ages and skill levels showed up to the Granby skate park Friday, June 21.
Emily Gutierrez/Sky-Hi News
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