Parker Roose was a bright young man who showed up to June Mountain in the winter of 2018 to work as a lift operator.  Hailing from South Dakota, Parker brought the June Mountain community together as a person who would chat, play music, and snowboard with everyone.  He quickly became the favorite liftie at June Mountain as he worked his way up as much as he could in his short few years on the mountain.  In 2021, our lives were shattered when we lost Parker Roose to suicide.  Before Parker left us, he helped to build a small mini-ramp for the community to use, but unfortunately it could only be located on private property.  He would have loved for the ramp to be available for all to use. 

Parker was kind, loving and one of the most caring people anybody could have had the pleasure of knowing. There was a ripple effect with his kindness, but there was also a ripple effect with his loss.   

This petition is to propose an indoor skatepark, a memorial for Parker, to be located in Mono County, preferably in June Lake or Mammoth Lakes.  Parker would have agreed that there is a genuine need for an indoor skate facility for the county.  While Volcom Brother’s provides the skate (and bike) community a place to grow in the summer, the shoulder season and winter months can prove to be very difficult for the community, and there is a good chance that having an indoor facility will help ease these more challenging times for our friends and family. Mono County has recently been experiencing more suicides, leaving the community feeling lost, and the seasonal reminders of these losses affect us at both an individual and community level.  An all season skatepark would ensure the community a place to gather during the toughest and most vulnerable times of the season: the shoulders.  An indoor park in June Lake would also bring much needed patronage to the businesses of June Lake during the shoulder season and winter months.  Skatepark visitors will visit the restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops and markets in the village. The indoor skatepark will be a safe, inclusive, family oriented facility for users of all ages.  It will be professionally designed and constructed by a skatepark company with design input from skatepark users.  Inside the park, there will be a small memorial for Parker Roose, our friend, our liftie.   

Skateparks are proven to increase health, well-being, and community cohesion while reducing social exclusion and anti-social behavior.  The skatepark will not only benefit skatepark users, it will enhance the town and will be an asset to the whole community.  

In memory of Parker Roose, please sign this petition to help our community foster support surrounding mental illness.