Chippewa Valley skateboarders have lost a venue for perfecting their ollies: The Eau Claire YMCA’s Skate Park has been permanently closed, the group’s board of directors announced recently. The skate park, 299 Moore St. (next to the Y’s tennis and gymnastics facility), opened in 1999 to provide a place where skateboarders could skate safety without damaging public or private property. However, attendance has been gradually declining, especially since the opening of a city-built skate plaza in Lakeshore Park last summer. According to a YMCA press release, this attendance decline, as well as rising maintenance costs and the existence of a new city facility, caused the Y’s board to decide to pull the plug. One bright spot: If you’re interested in getting your hands on one of the park’s ramps, contact the Y.