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If there’s a city in North Dakota truly deserving of a skate park, it’s Hillsboro, said by skateboarders to be the flattest city in the state.

With only two sloped paved roads in town, one being a state highway, the other traversing over the Goose River, Hillsboro’s skateboarders are left wanting.

Skateboarders, desperate for a proving ground, explored the possibility of establishing a skate facility on the vacant property at Caledonia and 1st St. NW, downtown Hillsboro, a hard-surfaced lot that once supported four bowling lanes.

That was a no-go, the skateboarders sadly learned.

Not to be denied, the skateboarders approached the city’s park board, inquiring if perhaps the seldom-used tennis courts at the elementary school could be transformed into a skateland.

Swimmers are offered a heated pool. Baseball players are given diamonds.

You get the picture, the skateboarders and friends argued.

We need to talk to the school, park board member Teak Kelly suggested.

The skateboarding request reached the school board Tuesday night.

Where the argument was met by a sympathetic audience. Not necessarily accommodating, but sympathetic.

“Great idea,” school board members agreed.

But, liability is an issue, they agreed.

“A big concern,” said board president Paul Fossum.

The tennis court immediately south of the elementary school is fenced in, and also features four basketball hoops.

School children play dodgeball on the tennis courts during the school year. Tennis lessons are taught there in the summer by the Hillsboro Community Recreation District.

It’s always available for shooting baskets.

Skateboarders would like to install equipment there, with lanes and flow patterns ranging from less challenging to medium difficulty to difficult.

Sorry, school board members reluctantly answered.

But, the school could possibly make available land for a skateland constructed by the park board, near the decades-old tennis court, indicated school superintendent Mike Bitz.

The park board, meanwhile, will consider what they can do to bring a skateland to Hillsboro.

In the meantime, skateboarders are left with the straight-line streets and sidewalks of Hillsboro and the old tennis court will continue to welcome dodgeball competitors, basketball and tennis players.

Game, set, match.