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In the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum, children are spending their summer break learning to roller skate and skateboard for free under the guidance of volunteer coaches at a park built specifically for the sport.
The roller skating and skateboarding park, constructed by the Palandoken Municipality two years ago on roughly 600 square meters of land in the Yildizkent neighborhood, has become one of the most popular gathering spots for children and families during the summer months.
Children arrive at the park early in the morning and spend much of the day there, with beginners working to find their balance on skates for the first time while more experienced skaters practice and refine the moves they have already learned.
Eren Iltir, a 74-year-old former roller skating coach who spent decades training athletes across various sports in the city, now volunteers his time to teach children the fundamentals of the sport and help them skate safely.
Iltir is joined by ice hockey athlete Haktan Kut, who also volunteers at the park, and together the pair have taught dozens of local children basic skating techniques free of charge.
Both coaches emphasized that skating on public streets carries safety risks, noting that the dedicated park allows children to practice in a controlled environment while parents watch from a safe distance nearby.
Kut, who stopped actively competing in sports due to an injury, said he and Iltir decided to begin offering lessons after noticing children at the park who wanted to skate but lacked the skills to do so, and they only began teaching after securing permission from the children's families.
The municipality built the park and similar facilities with the goal of helping children and young people grow into active, productive and self-confident members of their community.
Some of the children who regularly use the park said they have grown to love the space but noted that it becomes difficult to skate comfortably when it gets too crowded, expressing hope that the municipality will consider expanding it.
Coaches at the park also noted that several children who train there show considerable talent, and they encouraged local sports clubs to take notice and offer these young skaters opportunities to develop further.
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