Wheels Roll To Raise Funds For Newtown Skate Park

By Eliza Hallabeck

Bikers rolled down ramps before swooping up into the air off ramps, as skaters leapt off of their own wooden ledges on Saturday, August 7, at Dickinson Park, for the Victory Skate Rally held as a Donate To Skate fundraiser.

As the new skate park takes shape on the Dickinson Park property, skaters and residents attended the final fundraiser before the park’s completion. The skate park is expected to be complete by the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

The fundraising event ran from 11 am until 5 pm, and offered participants an area, under the pavilion, to skate, BMX bike, and in-line skate for $10. Raffle prizes included a GT El Centro 18-inch BMX bike, decks, clothes, gift certificates, and more. Vendors were on site with music, food and drink, games, face painting, and temporary tattoos. Donate To Skate T-shirts were also on sale that day.

By midafternoon Donate to Skate Campaign Chair Erin Heneghan and Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold were thrilled with the turnout, and expected many more to come out in the sunny weather for the fundraiser.

“It’s going great,” said Ms Heneghan. “It was a little crazy in the morning, but we are all set up.”

Music played behind her, and the slam of wheels landing on cement mingled with the rhythm.

“I think the kids are enjoying themselves, and it’s the best setup we’ve had, I think,” she said.

Ms Mangold agreed.

“And we have amazing raffle prizes,” Ms Mangold said. “The kids are really excited about that.”

One of those prizes, Ms Heneghan said, was a one-on-one lunch with pro-skater Mike Vallely, known as Mike V. Skate board decks, clothes, a $100 gift card to Zumiez, a BMX bike, free passes to and donated by Vertigo Skate Park in Brookfield, “and an awesome belt designed by Amy’s son” were also prizes offered during the day.

My Place Restaurant donated pizza and Andrea’s Pastry Shop donated food to be sold for the fundraiser to sell.

“Thank you to the community and the government for supporting us and getting us here,” said Ms Heneghan.

The day grossed just under $1,000 for the Newtown Skate Park, according to Ms Heneghan.

According to Ms Heneghan, “Participants enjoyed all-day skateboarding and BMX riding; pizza provided by My Place Restaurant; baked goods provided by Andrea’s Pastry Shop, Jan Brookes, and Mrs Brown; drinks provided by Big Y, Stop & Shop, Jan Brookes, Dina Lyon, Alice Baye, Tim Pierce, and Erin Heneghan; face painting and temporary tattoos done by Victoria and Sarah Braga; hair colors done by Mrs Cap; DJ and MC services provided by Melissa FitzSimons; and photography services provided by Phil Keane.”

Vendors during the event included HEAL clothing (healclothing.com), Slampigz clothing (slampigz.com), and Butter Wax Company.

Ramps and rails were provided by Bryn Gillette and Vertigo Skate Park, Adam Lizotte-Zeisler, the FitzSimons family, the Mulligan family, the Capozziello family, Julian Lewis, and Kyle, Adam, Jered, and Bill Robertson, according to Ms Heneghan.

Transportation, carpentry, and work for the event was provided by Bill Robertson, David Braga, Greg and Christopher Petriccione, Luke Vadaszy, John Pantan, and Bill Mangold.

Raffle prizes were donated by the Bicycle Goodie Shop of Bethel, The Danbury Whalers Hockey Team and Mike Vallely, Zumiez Skate & Snowboard Shop, SkateDownTown.com, the Avalos Family, Mark Tambascio and My Place Restaurant, Vertigo Skate Park of Brookfield, Dunkin’ Donuts, Rankin Sporting Goods of Danbury, and leather artist Andrew Mangold.

Ms Heneghan said last minute donations to fund the Newtown Skate Park are still needed and are tax deductible. Checks can be made payable to Newtown Parks and Recreation with Donate To Skate in the memo line, and should be mailed to Newtown Parks & Recreation at 3 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470. Visit DonateToSkate.com to download a printable donation form.

For a photo slideshow and a video from the event, go to www.newtownbee.com.