Skate Park Fundraiser

Set For July

By Kendra Bobowick

July 26 could be the magic date for the much-hoped-for Newtown Skateboard Park. The day promises a fundraising festival at Dickinson Park from 11 am to 6 pm — hours filled with food, entertainment, prizes, a skateboarding competition, and more.

“Come and check out the amazing extreme sport of skateboarding!” shouts the website, DonateToSkate.com. Promoting the event, resident Lori Capozziello noted that although the day is meant to raise funds toward a skate park, the festival will help guests better understand skateboarding. “People can see what it’s really about and how good the kids are at doing what they do,” she said. “It’s amazing, like, ‘Wow, how did they do that?’” she said, explaining, “They do the tricks, flip around, then they land again.” She is awed at the energy it takes and amount of practice required to become a good skating competitor.

Guests are encouraged to see for themselves the footwork and skill necessary to maneuver the skateboard through the ramps and pipes used in the sport. Highlighting the day will be a competition — no participants may enter without wearing a helmet — with a $20 entry fee. All ages and skill levels may enter. Vertigo SkatePark will sponsor the event, and Rampage LLC of Bridgeport will supply the ramps. Registration forms are available at the Parks and Recreation Department or skaters can downloaded forms from DonateToSkate.com. Participants must bring their forms.

Park support is important to Ms Capozziello, who believes that skateboarders are not only misunderstood, but like other sports participants, need a place to practice.

Are there misconceptions?

“Oh yeah,” Ms Capozziello said, further suggesting the teens’ dress code — tight jeans, gaudy T-shirts, messy hair, and piercings — give off a poor impression. “They’re good kids,” Ms Capozziello said. And to become good at skating they have to “practice and practice.” They need to practice in a safe place, however. “We need to get them out of the parking lots,” she said. Unlike other sports, skaters have no coach, no captain, and no place to go. “They’re constantly chased off by the police,” she said.

Both supported by the town and the recreation department, and with a spot set aside for them at Fairfield Hills, the skate park fund with $10,000 needs another approximate $65,000.

At The Festival

A kiddy park will appeal to the younger children, while older youth and teens can enjoy or participate in the skate competition. While entrance fees to the day’s events will be waived, competitors will be charged a $20 registration fee.

General admission fees will vary. How much will it cost to get in?

“Any donation you can afford,” Ms Capozziello said. “Any amount is appreciated.” Families can find food, prizes, and peruse the host of businesses opening booths at the park that day. Ms Capozziello asks that businesses contribute one raffle prize to the event, with proceeds benefiting the skate park. T-shirts will also be on sale.

Teen bands are also slated to play. Volunteers are still needed, and according to Ms Capozziello, the work can count toward teens’ community service hours. Bring paperwork to the festival for a signature.

The Mission

As stated on the website, “Our goal is to provide skate enthusiasts with a safe place to skate in Newtown. The officials of Newtown are offering us an outdoor land site at Fairfield Hills in which Donate to Skate will produce a professionally built skateboard park which will be donated to the town of Newtown. Parks and Recreation will then support and run the skate park.

“Skateboarding is a popular, healthy form of recreation for our youth… we believe we will give them positive choices of diversion and keep them off the streets. We hope the skateboard park campaign effort will be an inspiration to any person or group in Newtown for creating other needed recreational sites for our youth, through community effort. Please consider helping us.”

The recreation department will staff the park, and daily entrance fees will be collected to offset operations costs.