Why you should break out the skateboards this weekend

Megan Raposa -

This is a paid piece from The Breaks Coffee Roasting Co.

Simplified: The Sioux Falls Skatepark Association is hosting its annual block party Saturday on the "dopest block in town," right in front of The Breaks, Green Dream, Total Drag and Common Sense on East 12th Street.

Why it matters

  • This is the third annual block party, and this year, it's also holding a supply drive to support Lutheran Social Services' Center for New Americans.
  • The Skatepark Association is a volunteer-led group started in 2016 with the goal of building a state-of-the-art skatepark at the corner of 10th Street and Cliff Avenue in Sioux Falls.
  • The group's mission of creating community through an inclusive space fits exactly with The Breaks' mission, and owners Mary Campbell and Corey Gerlach are both supporters of the association and skaters themselves.
"We feel pretty impassioned about the Skatepark Association's work," Campbell said. "The block party is a way to bring them visibility and, hopefully, get more people skateboarding."

What's happening during the party?

Skating, obviously.

The 300 block of E. 12th St. will be shut down for the party, and there will be obstacles, ramps and rails for skaters to enjoy.

You can also:

  • Grab a drink at The Breaks,
  • Jam out with a DJ at Total Drag,
  • Get a t-shirt from Green Dream in a design only available Saturday,
  • And check out the kids' tent and Krazy Concessions food truck in front of Common Sense.

The event runs Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.  

What if I'm not a skater?

Come anyway.

The Sioux Falls Skatepark Association – despite the name – is about more than just skating. It's about creating a place for people to be who they are and find community.

"We don't want to just build a skatepark," Johnson said. "We want to create a better Sioux Falls."