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By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 12:28 p.m. EDT, Jun 17, 2009
Wadsworth is working to complete construction on the city's first skate park by July.
''All the ground is excavated, the gravel is laid and the foundation has already been poured for the ramp components,'' said Mike Smith, director of the city's Recreation Department. ''In fact some of the components are already in place, due to good weather.''
The new $100,000 skateboard facility is located at Valley View Park, 620 West St. near Interstate 76.
The nearly 15-acre park is already home to two basketball courts, a baseball field, two soccer fields and a children's play area.
The skateboard area in the front of the park will include rails, ledges and steps. It is about the size of two tennis courts.
''It's made out of concrete and steel, which is more durable than the plastic and wooden features available and easier to maintain,'' Smith said. ''We wanted to do this right. The parts were ordered from a concrete company in Canada.''
He said the company specializes in components that are strong and smooth.
City officials say the project is a community effort.
The city contributed $75,000 and residents held fundraisers and came up with $25,000. Another $6,000 was used on the project from a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The effort has been three years in the making.
''It's been a slow process because it's not an organized sport program, but more loose-knit,'' said LaVonda Belviso, the fundraiser chairperson for the project.
Belviso said the group sold a lot of hot dogs, T-shirts and commemorative bricks to help raise the money.
''We had a lot of volunteers at the beginning, but when progress dragged on, many people lost interest,'' she said.
Not skateboarder Seth Keiper, 17, who took on the task of vice chairman of the skate park committee.
''I stuck with it because I really wanted it,'' the teen said. ''I had a lot of faith in the people working with the project.''
Seth, who said he has been skateboarding since he was in the seventh grade, was able to get in on the planning end of the design.
''We just needed a smooth surface to skateboard,'' he said. ''We didn't care if it was concrete, asphalt or tarmac, but definitely not gravel and grass.''
He said he could skateboard for hours, but wasn't able to because Wadsworth had no place to skateboard in town.
''Some of the best places are in the parking lots of businesses and if you go there, you are hassled by cops.''
Smith said it was great to get students involved to take ownership in the project.
As far as safety, Smith said there will be signs encouraging the use of helmets and other safety gear. And children under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Seth said skateboarding is not a dangerous sport.
''It's a game of trial and error, so of course there will be a lot of cuts, bruises and scrapes, maybe even some broken bones, but you can get those same injuries from playing football or some other sport.''
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
Wadsworth is working to complete construction on the city's first skate park by July.
''All the ground is excavated, the gravel is laid and the foundation has already been poured for the ramp components,'' said Mike Smith, director of the city's Recreation Department. ''In fact some of the components are already in place, due to good weather.''
The new $100,000 skateboard facility is located at Valley View Park, 620 West St. near Interstate 76.
The nearly 15-acre park is already home to two basketball courts, a baseball field, two soccer fields and a children's play area.
The skateboard area in the front of the park will include rails, ledges and steps. It is about the size of two tennis courts.
''It's made out of concrete and steel, which is more durable than the plastic and wooden features available and easier to maintain,'' Smith said. ''We wanted to do this right. The parts were ordered from a concrete company in Canada.''
He said the company specializes in components that are strong and smooth.
City officials say the project is a community effort.
The city contributed $75,000 and residents held fundraisers and came up with $25,000. Another $6,000 was used on the project from a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The effort has been three years in the making.
''It's been a slow process because it's not an organized sport program, but more loose-knit,'' said LaVonda Belviso, the fundraiser chairperson for the project.
Belviso said the group sold a lot of hot dogs, T-shirts and commemorative bricks to help raise the money.
''We had a lot of volunteers at the beginning, but when progress dragged on, many people lost interest,'' she said.
Not skateboarder Seth Keiper, 17, who took on the task of vice chairman of the skate park committee.
''I stuck with it because I really wanted it,'' the teen said. ''I had a lot of faith in the people working with the project.''
Seth, who said he has been skateboarding since he was in the seventh grade, was able to get in on the planning end of the design.
''We just needed a smooth surface to skateboard,'' he said. ''We didn't care if it was concrete, asphalt or tarmac, but definitely not gravel and grass.''
He said he could skateboard for hours, but wasn't able to because Wadsworth had no place to skateboard in town.
''Some of the best places are in the parking lots of businesses and if you go there, you are hassled by cops.''
Smith said it was great to get students involved to take ownership in the project.
As far as safety, Smith said there will be signs encouraging the use of helmets and other safety gear. And children under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Seth said skateboarding is not a dangerous sport.
''It's a game of trial and error, so of course there will be a lot of cuts, bruises and scrapes, maybe even some broken bones, but you can get those same injuries from playing football or some other sport.''
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:54 PM, 06/17/2009
Duuuuude...this chocolate chick is too old to shred anymore but good for you Wadsworth...your businesses will appreciate the sidewalk surfers not doing ollies off their steps!
Posted 01:26 PM, 06/17/2009
A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN
Posted 01:46 PM, 06/17/2009
Good job Seth! Way to see it through!
Superfly: Why is skating a lawsuit waiting to happen? It's no more dangerous than full contact football, hockey, dirt bikes, bmx bicycles, roller blades, ice skating....
Akron, OH
Posted 02:11 PM, 06/17/2009
When I lived in Wadsworth about 7 years ago, I would always comment how they needed something like this. I had always assumed that I would be on the grounds of the Steiner Center, but this is good for the community :)
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:30 PM, 06/17/2009
M:
It could be more dangerous because most football and hockey players aren't stoned!
Posted 04:07 PM, 06/17/2009
Barney,
You sure about that? What an idiotic comment.
Posted 05:09 PM, 06/17/2009
Barney: Ok, thanks for clearing that up for me. Please tell us about ice skaters and bmx riders, are they stoners or alcoholics or morons like yourself?
Akron, Oh
Posted 05:53 PM, 06/17/2009
Barney if they are stoned why should u care
(plus maybe it won't hurt so bad)
Snydertown, OH
Posted 06:48 PM, 06/17/2009
str
