Letter to the Editor

A Letter to Local Skaters

Thank you for this opportunity to update area skaters and supporters on the current status of the skatepark effort. Stay positive. The hard work of many is paying off. The Skate Day events and sales projects have raised the fund to nearly $20,000. On top of this, a $10,000 Tony Hawk Foundation Grant was recently accepted by the city.

For many years, skaters and their families have kept alive the dream of a skatepark. After much time and effort with skaters, Jeff Fortkamp originally established the skatepark fund at the Mercer County Civic Foundation. In these last 2½ years, a team of adults and skaters has continued the work. Many skaters, parents, and local businesses have joined Jony D, Ray, Ruth, Nancy, myself and countless others to sponsor, organize and supervise events. At your Skate Days we have registered 270 skaters of ages ranging from 3 to 30 representing twenty different communities from Darke, Auglaize, Mercer, and Van Wert counties.

In this last year, city personnel have been helpful and supportive with the Tony Hawk Grant application, designs and drawings. Skaters have been actively involved in the process. The beauty of your current design is that it is multi-functional. Walkers, roller skaters, inline skaters, and skateboarders will share an aesthetically pleasing concrete park. Places to sit and watch with a lunch or an ice cream are part of the design. Everything will be built to skate. In the final phase, water splash areas spring to life for the public to enjoy during those hot summer days. A walking path will encircle the park as well. Festival planning committees will find the concrete surfaces and features very useful should the project end up in the Lakeshore park area. Like other city parks, the “Celina Skate Plaza” will be open from dawn to dusk, free to all, and maintained by the city. Liability is no different from other public parks. This all-concrete park will serve many more than we originally dreamed.

Skaters, you have the support of many. Your fund continues to grow. A “people park” that you can skate safely is just around the corner. In the mean time, you must show respect to property and business owners, community members, and the law. You have inherited a bad reputation because of the bone-headed behavior of a handful of skaters who continue to attract the wrong kind of attention. Don’t skate where you’re not allowed. Work to win your community’s trust. Help sell “Go Skateboarding” cards and contact us with questions and comments through the website: www.celinaskatepark.com.

Keith

$10,000

We are being awarded $10,000 from the Tony Hawk Foundation! With the nearly $18,000 we've raised so far, we're up to almost $30,000. Our goal is still $50,000 as we think that is what we need to build phase one. Visit www.celinaskatepark.com to see early designs that skaters have helped put together. STOP BY JONY-D's TO PICK UP "Go Skateboarding" discount cards. They sell for $5.00 and contain great discounts at local businesses - easy to sell!

UPDATE: Tony Hawk Grant Application

Even though we haven't had any Skate Days during these cold months, we have been at work for the skatepark benefit. Jony-D has been working hard on the "Go Skateboarding" discount card sales. WE REALLY NEED MORE SKATERS TO HELP OUT WITH THIS EASY SALES PROJECT! For just $5.00 most people will support the park and get some great discounts at local businesses. I'd like to setup a Wal-Mart or Chief day to sell them to customers as they enter/leave the store. Soon, I hope.

We've also worked the last two months on completing the Tony Hawk Foundation Grant Application. It looks great! We are hoping for the maximum reward of $25,000. We should know something in May. Several Celina City officials put in hours to help out. They are truly on our side. We received letters of support from 3-4 city council members, the mayor, the chief of police, and even the county sheriff in support of a skatepark in Celina!

Watch the website for up-coming Skate Days in late April or early May as the weather turns nicer.

Contact Jony at Jony-D Images and PLEASE HELP SELL SKATE CARDS!!
Thanks,
Keith

Skatepark Update

Since this past June, skaters have met with key players in the planning of a future skatepark in Celina. We've met local concrete contractor Matt Schwieterman who has been involved in the development of 3 skateparks - DC Skate Plaza, in Kettering being the most famous. We've also met with two Celina City officials who are working hard for us. Kent Bryan is the Community Developer here in Celina, and Jeremy Hinton is an engineer. We've met with one or both of them on 3 or 4 occasions just since August. Jeremy and Matt have also met, blending their knowledge and expertise.

At our last meeting Jeremy said that we would brainstorm one last time. He and his student helper are now drawing up a skatepark design based on the input of several of our local skaters. Everybody at the meeting seemed happy with the rough drafts and we're excited to see the professional renderings. Jeremy is running things through his professional CAD program and plans to have computer drawings finished in December. He will then provide 3-D renderings that we can post on our website.

Once we have these drawings in hand, we need to go full speed with community, club and corporate presentations to raise the rest of the money. The way I see it, momentum is building and we must push for a skatepark like never before. I have been told by at least three city officials that they realize now that we are not going away and something has to be done. This is the direct result of efforts by skaters, families and friends over the last 15 years or so!

We've raised just over $16,000. The city realizes that is a serious amount of money sitting in the Mercer County Civic Foundation that MUST be spent for a skatepark. Recently they have suggested that the park be built next to the Bryson Pool. Most of us like the idea, but it's not a done deal yet. More money needs to be raised and the City Council needs to be won over.

Spread the good word. Skate respectfully and work to win the trust of the city. We especially need to win local business owners who've been vandalized over the years. I know it's not always skaters but it's has been enough in the past that it's given skaters a rep. And we must also show our local police officers respect. They will talk about you as positively as you treat them. We need all of our city on our side.

Keep up the good work. More trust, less trouble - that needs to be our motto.

See you at the next Skate Day!
Keith

Pro-Skateboard Team will perform at the August 2nd Skate Day:

Traveling all the way from Joplin, Missouri, a team of 2-3 Professional Skateboarders from Untitled Skateboards will put on a demonstration around 1:00 pm at the August 2^nd Skate Day at the Celina First Church of God on Fairground Road. They are bringing their own equipment to join you for our August 2^nd Skate Day. Don’t know anything about Untitled? Check ‘em out at www.untitledskateboards.com. Does the name Jud Heald ring a bell? I can’t promise he will actually be there but he is on one of Untitled’s two teams and might show up!

Skate Day is from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. $5.00 for skaters, spectators pay $2.00 to watch. All skaters must have a parent-signed waiver on file. SPREAD THE WORD. BRING EVERYBODY! Not only will this be a great time, but also we hope to raise a bunch of money for your new skatepark - coming soon!

ALSO: WE NEED HELP WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF RAMPS AND BOXES. If your families can help with trucks and/or trailers to transport things to and from skate day, and if you can store things after skate day, then CALL KEITH ASAP to volunteer your help.

Skate Day March 8th

12:00 - 6:00 inside the old Celina Wal-Mart.

$5 to get in. Must have a parent-signed waiver to skate.
ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARD THE FUTURE SKATEPARK!

Got ideas? Blog them here.

A Great Day!!

What a day! We were averaging between 120 and 150 people for half the time. The bands were awesome. I got a little worried about the mosh pit activities. It looked more dangerous than skateboarding. YOU RAISED $900 FOR MARIA DONOVAN! This last year has been a lot of fun. Many people and area businesses have donated time and money to Skatepark. It's a great idea to give back once in a while.