Rain drives the NW skater loony.

So loony that a group of skaters, 14 years ago on Halloween gathered to create what is now known as the ‘Greatest Skatepark Ever".

Hell, people moved here from all over the states - Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, Hawaii, and California - because of her reputation.

And it helps to be born in the hands of Mark Scott, the son of knarly.

I remember my first time there, my friend Tom Nordwall told me all about it, so we jumped in the car and investigated the beginnings. It started out as a 5-foot wide bank to wall on a rough asphalt parking lot. So many odd things were built there, a bank around one of the pillars was one.

Over the years, good things and bad have happened.

Now, holy shit, it’s an incredible experience to skate. Recently, the founding fathers came in and replaced 60 percent of the park. Smoothed it out, rented a grinder to flatten the 6ft bowl. Fixed all her dents and cracks. It’s blender of speed and style now. And the best part of it, she is still here, cherished by everyone who skates.

On Halloween this year, everyone came out to celebrate her existence and we all had a blast. It really gets dark early, so fireworks become a fun way to light things up. Someday I’ll stop skating to shoot that shot.

Personally, I would like to thank Mark Scott, Sage Boulyard and the whole entire Dreamland Crew, Kent Dahlgren, Tom Miller, Jay Meer, All the PDX locals and anyone who cleans, picks up and never takes this park for granted.

And prayers to the Neil Heddings’ family.

- Mike Estes