Drop In

By Liam Givens, Sandy Standard

Since its opening in November of 2024, Sandy Parks and Recreation has sought to make Cedar Park a space for the community to enjoy outdoor activities. “The Drop In” will take place on Aug 22 and 23, the space's first skate and bike competition. “One of the council’s goals was to have a big event and attract skaters and bikers and have a big festival,” explained John Wallace, parks and recreations community and senior center manager. 

It’s far from the first time that Sandy Parks and Recreation has had this initiative. In 2002, they collaborated with the Troutdale Parks and Recreation and Gresham Parks and Recreation, as well as Gresham YMCA and Mount Hood Community College to bring the community “Skatefest.”

For five years, Skatefest brought together local bands, food vendors, and community members to spectate the one-day contest for skaters, rollerbladers, and scooters. After it ended in 2007, the city has yearned for a competition to return. “Bringing an event back like that was a goal, but on an even bigger scale,” Wallace said. 

In partnership with Eclipse Solutions, operations consultants for small businesses, the Sandy Parks and Recreation presents the inaugural Drop In. “We really wanted to showcase the park as a whole, not just the awesome skate park and jumpline,” Tanner Derrick said, partner of Eclipse Solutions. “It really is a blank slate for the community to take advantage of, with the action sports backdrop everpresent.”

Each day, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and has a variety of games and activities, a rock climbing wall, bike obstacle courses, and more. Food vendors at Drop In will include Boring Brewing, Country Coffee, and Kona Ice, as well as vendors such as the Sandy Library, Mount Hood Athletic Club, Mount Hood Community College, and many more. 

The main event will be the skate and bike competition, "We're looking to showcase the pump track's flow and speed on the first day,” Wallace said. “Moving into day two, we will kick things up a notch as riders roll through the jumpline, in addition to the pump track course. The top riders will need to manage their speed entering these jumps but ultimately the fastest time wins.” Competitors have the chance to win a variety of awards and prizes, including a $300 cash prize. 

The Drop In is a family-friendly weekend experience bringing together riders, skaters, families, and the Sandy community for celebration of sport and connection. According to Derrick, “I hope to see it grow into something reminiscent of a medieval tournament for all action sports lovers over the years to come.”