If you’re not a skater, inline skater, or BMXer, you may not know a lot about these sports or the local scene. However, anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock in the last 15 years knows that the popularity of these sports has exploded and continues to rise- thanks to the X-Games and ESPN, Tony Hawk, Bam, more stores carrying these goods (like in the mall), companies like Nike making skate products- and the list goes on. Locally, this is all true, but the thing many people don’t know is the desperate need we have for safe, legal places to practice these sports. Did you know that half of serious skateboarding accidents are due to collisions with cars? This kind of thing can be avoided, or drastically reduced, if cities and towns begin to get on board (literally) and provide appropriate facilities- just as they do with basketball, baseball, football, soccer, tennis, etc. At this point we’ve received support and approval from the Downingtown Borough Council. Our work is only beginning though, and public support is now more valuable than ever.

What does this have to do with you? Even if you’re not directly affected by this, you can still show your support for this segment of our community- particularly our youth who practice these sports.

1. The easiest way to do this is by becoming a fan of our Facebook page.

2. In the coming months our organization will be present at tons of community events throughout Chester County- please stop by and show your support.

3. We are now a legitimate nonprofit 501c3 organization and will be doing quite a bit of fundraising. We’ll let you know how you might be able to show your support- in ways big or small. We’ll provide some information soon about how anybody interested might be able to help.

4. And lastly, as we begin attending some of these events and hosting some of our own, we would love to hear from anyone interested in helping out, in any way that they can. The more the merrier, and we’re open to any ideas anyone might have.

For anyone who may not know, what we’re doing is something that is happening rapidly across the country.  Ours, though, will be the only one like it within a 1.5 hour drive.  Here are the 2 closest examples:

One completed… Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark (York, PA) http://www.reidmenzermemorialskatepark.org/

And one in progress… The Bethlehem Skateplaza (Bethlehem, PA)  http://www.bethlehemskateplaza.com/

Thanks so much, and we’re looking forward to what should be a very exciting year!! – Jesse