Author: jessematthews

I have been skating for over 20 years and have lived my whole life in Chester County, apart from my college years in Pittsburgh. I'm a married father of three sons, ages 10, 4 1/2, and 2 1/2. I work full-time as a counselor at a private school for learning-disabled students and am also a full-time psychology doctoral student at Immaculata University. I enjoy skateboarding as much as I ever have and I find time whenever I can to skate with my friends. I am also having fun teaching my kids to skate. I think a public skatepark in Downingtown would benefit the area tremendously- action sports participants and the wider community alike. A local park would be ideal for me, and my friends and I look forward to being able to take our kids to it. It will be a wonderful opportunity also to be able to improve the community and to be able to give something back. Another goal is to work to improve the image of action sports in the area and to ensure local participants the same respect and opportunities to practice their sports that they would have with traditional sports.