Hurdles: Skatepark obstacle – money

By Brenna Wiegand

There’s just one thing keeping the Silverton Community Skate Park from rolling forward. Money – lots of money.

The city of Silverton acquired a 13-acre parcel at the corner of Westfield and West Main streets, donated a portion of it for the newly opened Silverton Senior Center; the rest is dedicated to community parks. Seven years in the making, the current project involves much more than a structure for skateboarding and stunt bicycle riding. The plan includes a large community park with picnic grounds, a playground and a small amphitheater.

The entire project will cost about $1.1 million. The skate park will take an estimated $450,000 and encompass one acre.

Extending off the Silverton Senior Center parking lot will be a smaller parking area connected to a large circular parking area doubling as an amphitheater for concerts and other public events. A grassy spot nearby forms the seating.

Quite recently, the skate park secured a $5,000 grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation; several other grant applications are out. Supporters have earned another couple thousand washing cars. They’re hoping the city will budget additional funds so the park can meet its goal within two years or it will lose the initial $5,000 grant.

Jason Franz, who opened Fall Line in Silverton eight years ago, has been working toward a local skate park for even longer than that. The shop sells, assembles and repairs bicycles; sells skateboards, snowboards, parts, safety gear and clothing.

“I’ve been riding skateboards and bicycling since I was 4 years old,” said Franz, who’s had skateboarding sponsors and is currently one for BMX racing. “I worked in a biking and skateboarding shop in Port Orchard, Wash., from 16 to 18 where I learned bicycle mechanics and retail sales.”

Jon Beavert, Franz’s skate team manager, says Silverton is a relatively dead town for skateboarding due to its lack of facilities.

“Right now the only place to skate in town is just in front of Fall Line,” he said. “I built a couple little rails, but it’s a pretty small parking lot.”

Park plans include a “skate-able” path around its perimeter, something currently unheard of within the city.

But a growing set of dedicated community members intend to change that. Construction of the park has strong backing, including city councilor/charitable club members Judy Schmidt, Kyle Palmer and Randal Thomas – all staunch proponents from the get-go.

Franz said he’s had good feedback from local clubs like the Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis; several of their number are on the fund raising board. Also on deck is Scott Clum, a veteran skateboarder, snowboarder, professional advertiser, photographer and videographer.

“Bryan Cosgrove (former city manager) and former mayor Ken Hector have been a big help and were part of us getting approved for the property,” Franz said.

Beavert said the senior center is fully in favor of the skate park. Its fundraising leaders Ray Hunter and Ruth Cock having an active hand in the undertaking.

The Silverton Skate Park Committee has declared July 2 “Silverton Community Skate Park Day” to involve the business sector, would-be skaters and area families. Schmidt and Palmer gave a presentation on the project at a recent Silverton Chamber luncheon, asking area business owners to dedicate a percentage of the day’s sales or otherwise contribute to the park’s formation and to purchase promotional T-shirts for employees to wear that day. Schmidt said businesses stand to benefit in turn.

“We will be producing local and regional advertising designed to draw the general public to this event,” she said. “It is our goal to increase the customer traffic and sales on this day in a way that will provide a significant return on their investment.” Stations around town will provide information about the project and direct people to participating merchants and the skateboarding clinic and demonstrations that will be going on at Seven Brides Brewing.

Seasoned skaters will give beginning through advanced classes throughout the day, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., for kids 8 and older. They’ll import a half pipe for the demonstrations and a free skate time. Other plans are in the works.

“A skate park draws not only people who live nearby,” Franz said. “There are people that have money to travel statewide, nationally and even internationally to go to skate parks.

“Oregon is one of the leading states for skate parks with more than 90. Aumsville, just 20 miles away, is considered one of the best skate parks in Oregon. They hold big contests and events where they’ll have 100 people show up to watch or participate.

“The No. 1 goal of this park is to serve the surrounding community and then also to provide an area attraction that will bring people from out of town who will hopefully also spend their dollars here.”
Franz said they designed the park to help complement those in the surrounding areas, incorporating some of their best elements and providing many the others lack.

“We’ve got multiple bowls, handrails, stairs, a spine, quarter pipes a lot of ledges and banks to grind or catch air out of,” he said.