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Ashland's skate park opens this weekend ASHLAND -- After three years of planning and hard work intermingled with setbacks, wheels will begin rolling on the valley's newest skateboard park this weekend. A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ashland's park at Water and Hersey streets. "It's being touted as a world-class park," said community service officer Jan Janssen, who coordinated the park's development with skateboarders. Janssen has put together a display of the construction process that will be available for viewing Saturday. "I think Ashland will really take the spotlight," said Eric Dawkins, a local skate park designer who refined the design of the Ashland park. "It's a really interesting design ... a little bit of everything." The park will be open from dawn to dusk. Park rules are posted, including the need to respect other skaters and wear a helmet. Water street will be closed for parking on Saturday in order to make room for spectators. While the parks department finishes landscaping, construction crews will be moving equipment back to Talent, where the street course portion of that city's skate park remains to be completed. Weather permitting, work on the Talent park will continue through the spring. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA