As Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, and Mayor Steve Krieg joked, the new Lismore Skatepark has already been opened more times than a Rolling Stones final tour and an envelope.

You can classify today as the 'official' opening because it involved the cutting of the red ribbon by Ms Saffin, Mayor Krieg, and two important members of the skateboarding community, Sam James and Corey Mylls, who were heavily involved in the design.

Lismore’s new $3.9 million skatepark, on the corner of Dawson and Uralba Streets, has already been hailed a huge success as thousands of people of all ages have used the facility.

Ms Saffin said she stopped her car to watch the skateboarders in action last night after dinner when she saw the lights on.

"There were people skating, and I just sat for a while across the road and watched. I thought, how good is this, it is just fantastic."

The lights come on at 5pm each evening. Half are turned off at 9:30pm and they are switched off at 10pm. It is being utilised by enthusiasts who work or who want to practice advanced tricks without the interruption of beginners or small children on bikes.

There has been some social media chat about some abuse at the skatepark and the lack of understanding as to how to use the new facility.

"I've seen the same sort of commentary," Mayor Krieg acknowledged. "It's designed in a certain way to allow advanced skaters to go length ways along the path.

"We'll work on the signage, and again, we'll be guided by the users of the park as to what's best. What I do hope is that it doesn't become a graffiti hit or somewhere for people to think that they can trash the place. This is a facility for everyone in Lismore to enjoy."

John from CONVIC, the leading Australian company that creates skateparks across the country, told the Lismore that the Lismore facility was one of the much larger skateparks it has built. The average council built skatepark is half the size.

Legendary Lismore skateboarder and pioneer Travis Watson was honoured with a rail and praised for his advocacy over the last 19 years after his death in June 2023.

"If it wasn't for Travis, we wouldn't be here today," Corey Mylls said. "But also, a big thanks to council for letting us get on board and be able to design something so unique in this town, especially being right in the middle of the CBD. 500 metres and you're in the CBD, and 500 metres you're at the shopping mall."

A vital design element of the new Lismore Skatepark was the drainage. Being in a low-lying area that does have water over it because of stormwater or flooding, it was important to build adequate drainage.

"There are massive pipes in the ground, where the water is dispersed out into the main drain system," Corey said. "I'm hoping that we don't get another flood or anything, but we're hoping it works well. The minor ones that we had a few months ago (Cyclone Alfred), when the park was getting underway with metal dust and the shaping of the dirt, I came and had a look, and within the day the water disappeared. Everything was still the same. We know that it's going to work."

Of course, the surrounding grass area is wet underfoot, as is most of Lismore. That was made worse as today's storm swept through the region.

While joking about the opening, again, of the Lismore Skatepark, Lismore City Council is advertising the Grand Opening this Saturday.

From 12 noon, there will be demonstrations, clinics, a skate jam, giveaways, food, and live music, including Soy Division and PEP.

Everyone is welcome; all skill levels and all ages. Importantly, Saturday's weather is sunny and 22 degrees, so perfect for a grand opening.

Once all the openings are complete, it is clear that the new Lismore Skatepark will be well used consistently by the public. It was built to international competition standard, so there is the belief that the facility will attract serious competitors and serious skateboarders from all over the Northern Rivers and beyond.

“With skating now an Olympic event, and many world-class skaters coming from our region, a new skate park will be another string in our bow and attract even more visitors," Mayor Krieg said.

It is like the movie, Field of Dreams. Build it and they will come.

The project was funded under Round 2 of the NSW Government's Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund. It is a welcome addition to the Lismore Sporting Precinct, as it is next to Oakes Oval and Crozier Field.