Skate Park Committee Half Way to Fundraising Goal

Mimi Mehta, Mary Rohe and the rest of the Chatham Skate Park Committee have been hard at work in recent weeks to reach their $15,000 fundraising goal.

After Mehta, Rohe and other advocates of the park got the committee to agree to authorize their fundraising efforts, volunteers have worked to raise awareness in the community of the need for a new asphalt surface at the skate park.

"The asphalt surface at the park remains deteriorated and bumpy. A principal reason that park use had dropped off in the first place is because of the condition of the asphalt," Mehta said in a recent press statement.

A bumpy asphalt creates a safety hazard to skaters and poses a danger that the skate park may continue to decline in use.

"In order to ensure a safe environment at the park and create an enjoyable skating experience that will last for years to come, the Chatham Skate Park Committee has undertaken a campaign to raise $15,000 to go towards a new acrylic skating surface designed specifically for skate wheels," Mehta said in the statement.

The towards the skate park. Now the Municipal Alliance of the Chathams has donated $500.

MACC Chair Dawn Ferguson said the alliance "[supports] the restoration of the Skate Park as a substance-free place for our youth to enjoy. So few of these opportunities exist for our children outside of recreation sports,” and the skate park provides just such an opportunity.

Donations from these and other sources has brought the fundraising total to $7,450, just under half of what is needed.

To raise awareness of the park and the ongoing fundraising campaign, the committee started a logo design contest open to all individuals 19 years of age and under. The winning design will be used in publicity and on merchandise. 

The committee has also started a corporate sponsorship program and invites any interested business to learn more by visiting their website.

History of the Skate Park

The Chatham Skate Park opened in 2003, thanks to local residents who spearheaded efforts to raise necessary for its construction. The original cost of the park was about $200,000, which was raised partly through donations and partly from the township.

The skate park was closed in August on the advice of the township's insurance provider. The park was structurally compromised and needed intense renovations.

Repairs were made to the ramps and the skatelites, the top cover of the ramps by the township's Department of Public Works using materials the township had at their disposal. Administrator Thomas E. Ciccarone invited the township's insurance carrier to come inspect repairs. Once snow from the Feburary blizzard was cleared the park reopened.

Still, Mehta said, the surface needs to be repaved before skaters can enjoy the park at its full potential.

"The goal of the Chatham Skate Park Committee is to raise all of the money by May 1 so that the renovation can be complete for the summer season," Mehta said.

To that end the women have established the Chatham Skate Park Committee with a Facebook page and website. The committee is accepting tax-deductible donations.

If they do raise the full $15,000 in time, Mehta and Rohe plan to have a grand re-opening ceremony for the skate park in June to coincide with the 10th annual National Go Skate Day, which will also be celebrated with a two-day event at the Smithsonian.

Tax-deductible donations for the skate park can be made by writing a check to Chatham Township with "Chatham Skate Park" in the memo line.