By Tom Nash

Somerville skateboarders spent last Saturday scouting Boston for design ideas for their long-awaited skate park– a project that a recent appearance before the Board of Aldermen may have finally put in motion.

A mostly teen-aged group showed up to the Sept. 9 Aldermen meeting with a petition containing 450 signatures asking for a skate park in Somerville, capping an awareness campaign conducted by skateboarders and the community organization Save Our Somerville.

‚ÄúWe started (the petition) so that skaters can have a safe place to go — just a place to be,‚Äù Somerville High School freshman Cameron Kostopoulos said.

Kostopoulos started skateboarding a few months ago, joining the skate park movement so he could have a place to practice. Both he and organizer Michael Sampson, a junior at Somerville High, lamented the difficulty of skating in Somerville.

The skateboarders have been eyeing Albion Park as their preferred location, and have had ongoing discussions with city representatives about the possibility. As Sampson told the aldermen, however, what they really want is a place that emulates favorite street spots such as Somerville High.

‚Äú(A skate-park) doesn’t have to have crazy ramps and stuff, just some nice ledges,‚Äù Sampson said. ‚ÄúSomerville High was a big spot … There’s a lot of pro videos filmed there. I would like it if that were recreated.‚Äù

In conjunction with the petition, Ward 3 Alderman Thomas F. Taylor put forward an order to reopen the search for a skate park in the city.

The order met a chorus of approval from other aldermen, who also praised the skateboarders for their efforts.

‚ÄúIt’s about time this Board of Aldermen come through and show our support for them,‚Äù Ward 1 Alderman William Roche said.

Roche noted, however, that the skateboarders may face opposition from residents fearful of having a park in their neighborhood. “We can use the dog parks as an example,” he said. “Nobody wanted a dog park in their neighborhood, but everything worked out fine.”

Save Our Somerville organizer Adam Rich said the petition has convinced several aldermen to work on their behalf. Ward 5 Alderman Sean T. O’Donovan has offered to help win over Albion Park area residents.

“(The petition) obviously carries a lot of weight with the board,” Rich said. "I think the situation is very hopeful.”