A skate park is opening Saturday morning at the south end of Grant Park. View Full Caption Grant Park Conservancy

CHICAGO — Though excited boarders have been rolling their greasy wheels on the new skate park at Grant Park for weeks, they'll be able to get their first Park District-approved runs when it finally opens Saturday.

The skate park, which has been so highly anticipated they had to ramp up security to keep skateboarders out while the concrete cured, will open its gates with a big party Saturday featuring local DJs, contests, giveaways and — of course — boarding, said Bob O'Neill, president of the Grant Park Conservancy, which lobbied aggressively for funding to get the skate park built.

"People really want to use it. It's really motivating to have park space that's going to be used by people from all over the city and suburbs," O'Neill said. "I think the only people more excited than me are the skateboarders and BMXers. They've really been anticipating this."

The skate park, which sits just east of the Agora "legs" sculptures at the south end of Grant Park near Roosevelt Road, is opening ahead of schedule. It was initially expected to be completed by January.

Despite a chilly December opening, the celebration, which begins at 11 a.m., is expected to generate a good turnout, O'Neill said.

Saturday will be windy with temperatures reaching as high as 38 degrees and as low as 27 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

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