In the Year 2010

In the year 2010, I had a conversation with a couple of young men in our community about their dream of a skate park. Several days later, maybe a week later, I was startled awake. God said, "The time is now to go forward with the skate park." 

The skate park dream was not a new one to Plainview. I knew it had been attempted before, as early as the year 1999 and had, for different reasons, not been able to move forward. As I laid there thinking about what God had just told me I asked him, "Are you sure you want me?" I had an extreme peace about what to do. Follow. Thus, the Vision Skatepark Plainview journey began. I became the liaison for the VSP group and the city process.

Insert here many, many months of planning, starting, stopping...roller coaster ups & downs, always with the sustenance of excitement filled eyes and hearts of passion for their sport of skateboarding, roller skating, and bicycling ...

Fast forward now to October 28, 2014. The Plainview City Council has on its agenda the action item of building a skate park. The young people are encouraged to attend.

 

Here is a before the council meeting started picture. Many others were present that are not pictured.

 

The Down N Derby team came in support, as well. 

 

The meeting started and it came to the place on the agenda to present the information to the council. The mayor asked the city manager to give the council the information to consider. This is when I began to witness the beautiful unfolding of God's plan. 

The mayor asked for public comment once the presentation was made. I stood outside council chambers in awe as those young & young at heart stood and spoke their passion for the skate park. As each person addressed the council and said where they lived, it seemed as if God hand picked their location to show that every area of town and even other cities were represented.

Now, there were several adults, community supporters, that spoke their reasons they were asking for council support and there were those there who did not stand up and speak, but their presence was essential to the outcome.

The young people who stood and spoke just blew me away with their passion along with a respect and mature consideration of the environment in which they stood. These were, for the most part, teenagers opening their hearts with words that were needed to help the council see the vision. 

I have prayed all along that God would provide me peace regardless of what the city council vote would be. I knew it was His plan. I was just a vessel. Still, I did not think I could bear the disappointment on the young people's faces if they voted to not move forward with the project. I've become a little attached by heartstrings with them.

I wonder why I doubted? It was His vision that awoke me nearly 5 years ago and it has been his all along. What a beautiful unfolding. I could not be happier for our community.

Vision Skate Park Plainview is NOW Plainview Community Skate Park.

I stand amazed.

 

http://www.myplainview.com/news/article_f8d0f91c-5f17-11e4-b29a-1700f6ecb035.html

Comments

[Belinda Smith]

Wonderfully written, heartfelt, chill bump inspiring story. I suspect it was more than a vision for a skate park and now more than a project for the City. It's a future and a place for people to connect, enjoy life and "be" what makes Plainview who she is.

[Glenda Feris]

So happy for you, Phyllis and for these young people who will now have a special place to experience the joy of skateboarding.

[Sally Gubser]

Yay