by Kris Hooten

If you’re tired of the long drive to the major snowboard parks in Colorado, there will soon be a solution to your problem right here in Greeley.

The Farm will be a year-round snowboard park located at 134 11th Ave. and will be sponsored by Christ Community Church.

Jeff Neel — who is a pastor at CCC and will also run the park — said the park is the only year-round park he knows in the state of Colorado. The park — which will be covered in a carpet like material called astroride — will also be built with three rails and one jump. Astroride is made by the same company that makes astroturf and was used in the 1998 Olympics ski long jump.

Neel is yet to set a date for the opening of the park, but he said he hopes it will be open before Christmas.

The three different rails will be inter-changeable and will be able to be used at one time. The height of the jump is 45 feet out. Mackey Hooker, who is also a part of the park leadership, said he feels that the experience at The Farm will be a great one.

“It will be hard press to find a park cooler than ours, people will have a radical experience,” Hooker said.

The park is being built to attract more advanced riders, but all are welcomed. Eric White will be the park’s sponsored snowboarder and will be offering lessons to those boarders who are not as advanced.

According to White, the park’s main theme is ministry to the community, which is targeted from middle school to college students. The size of the park may grow depending on its popularity.

“The growth of the park will depend on the popularity, that will decide if we are open more and how big it gets,” White said.

The Farm hopes to hold competitions and, according to Neel, it will happen.

“We have everything legally worked out. It will happen, we won’t cancel it,” Neel said.