Hi -

My name is Tim Gorman. I live with my family in Nelson County. I have two sons who like to skateboard. That’s partly why I’ve started this group. I say partly, because I like to skateboard, too, though I can’t say I’m any good. So there is a selfish motivation behind this endeavor.

Skate Nelson, conceptually, will be a group made of skaters, their parents, friends, local businesses, and supporters of good healthy recreation. The goal is to build a quality community skatepark in Nelson County. A community skatepark is a free, public space made just for skateboarding enthusiasts and spectators. I’m starting this group, but I understand there are loosely organized groups, mostly industrious Nelson County kids, also attempting to do the same thing. Hopefully they will work with or merge with Skate Nelson. And while I started this group, I am more than happy to relinquish leadership. But allow me to explain my admittedly simplistic vision for how we can get this skatepark built. Keep in mind there are many means to an end

First we organize. In order for the need to be recognized, we need many voices asking for a skatepark in unison. Who will this be? End users, the skaters, of course. But who else should join Skate Nelson? People who want to give skateboarding a try but haven’t had good place to start. Parents who want a safe place for their kids to exercise. County residents who want more recreational facilities available for everyone. Businesses that want to give back to the community, that want to raise the quality of life in the county, and that want to offer more of a draw to those not fortunate enough to live here (i.e. tourists and prospective home owners). Churches, for all the above reasons, and to offer skaters an alternative to their paved parking lots. In short, an argument can be made that everyone should be behind a well-sited, quality-made community skatepark.

Once organized, the hard work begins. No, not construction, but everything that must occur before an ounce of cement can be poured. Hopefully the county government will be accommodating from the start, but there may be some need for persuasion. An educated Skate Nelson group will accomplish this; there are just too many good reasons to build a skatepark. Even with county support, site selection will be tough. A community skatepark needs to be centrally located, with good parking and amenities (bathrooms). It should not be sited as to cause a nuisance to neighbors. Personally, I think the Rockfish Community Center is an ideal location for a skatepark, but that may not be possible or feasible for many reasons. Siting is a large issue.

So, after the county gives it’s blessing and a site is identified, the park will be installed, right? Nope. Skate Nelson has no money. Nelson county has no money, either. The county will have trouble paying teachers next year. As arguable as a skatepark is, paying teachers is more important. So the well organized Skate Nelson will become a fund raising machine. This is also why membership is important. Say a park costs $60,000. With 100 members, we’d need to raise $600 each on average; with 1000 members, just $60 per member would need to be raised. That’s a lot less lawns to mow or mocha lattes to forgo. By the way, if certain parameters are met, addition funding may be available, for example from the Tony Hawk foundation.

Somewhere in the process, the type of skatepark must be decided upon. Skate Nelson members should decide, with community input, between a street skate “plaza” design, an all vertical skatepark with pipes, pools, and bowls, or a hybrid park with elements of both. Design possibilities will be limited by site and money, no doubt. But this will be a crucial decision that the group must make.

With money in hand, site selected, and county blessing, finally, construction can start. Of course, good design will precede construction. There are firms specializing in skatepark design. By working with the group, design can be finalized. The group will hire the company to construct park. This might be the easiest function the group performs.

Then the Grand Opening Ceremony…phew, that’ll be a head-ache.

Thanks for reading. Please join our group. It’s free. Pass the web site on to friends. We’ll keep you informed. We should have an actual face-to-face group meeting soon to kick start Skate Nelson’s formation. It will be great to have you there. Oh, and post your thoughts. — Tim Gorman