Skate Nelson » Meetings and Updates

RVCC Planning Committee

timo — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:58:44 +0000

Sorry it has been a while. I attended a RVCC Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday night. The agenda was largely dealing with the upcoming feasibility study that the community center is doing and particularly the initial research of local opinions and desires. This initial research is to determine what the community wants the RVCC to offer. The info gathered from community members will then be added to the RVCC business plan. A business plan is always important. RVCC may be a non-profit, but it still has bills to pay. A business plan will allow the RVCC board to determine what is feasible… hence Feasibility Study. Everyone may want a roller-coaster, but that doesn’t mean it’s feasible.Clearly we want community support for a skatepark. This will mean doing some extra work to spread the word. Maybe we could all go to three or four of our neighbors and talk to them about why we’d like a skatepark. When they hear your enthusiasm they will likely back a skatepark, too. I did not specifically address an RVCC skatepark at the meeting. It’s clear to me that the committee has chosen a wise method to ensure the long-term success as RVCC as a whole. I think we will need to let this process play out. That likely means waiting a while, maybe until July, before we know where we stand. I do think, however, that well organized, determined groups will be more successful working with RVCC than people in the community that “would like” stuff. You know: “I would like some tennis courts.” “I would like a pool.” Compared to we will fund, design, and build a skatepark, with all thing being equal, it’s hard to believe the board would turn us down. – Tim

Off the air…

timo — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:04:07 +0000

Well, off the web site, until April 1. Quick trip to Colorado ski country. I have sent messages to RVCC board members regarding the skatepark but so far now word back. If you know someone involved at RVCC, get them involved with Skate Nelson, too. I went to Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton last weekend. For those that don’t know, they have a small skatepark. It’s got some pretty good features: It’s on smooth concrete, there is no attendant, no fence, and it’s free. Pretty simple layout… a rail or two, pryamid ramp, small half-pipe. It’s a great example, too, that a community skatepark works. Within sight of the skatepark are three full-size deluxe basketball courts. Not a sole was playing b-ball. But the skatepark had at least eight people having fun, gettin’ exercise. – Tim

Meeting with Parks and Rec…

timo — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:55:34 +0000

Today I met with Emily and Gary at the Nelson County Parks and Recreation Department (NCPRD). My intention was to find out if there was any history of people trying to start a skatepark in the county, if there was interest from NCPRD, if there was opposition to a skatepark, that sort of thing. Turns out that Parks and Rec. agrees with the need for a skatepark, and they seem willing to help in anyway they can… except with funding. As we all know, times are hard, and the county does not have extra tax dollars right now. It was great though that I really didn’t have to “sell” the skatepark concept. They get it! We agreed that the site at the Rockfish Community Center(RCC) seemed pretty ideal, but there may be obstacles to using that site, too. Next, I’ll try to speak with someone on the RCC Board to get a sense of their opinion on the project. After that, I think we’re ready to have a sit down meeting and make a clear plan of action.

From Colin…

timo — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:55:54 +0000

” Hey everyone, this is Colin, but, just for today, I’m pretending to be Tim. We are gonna have a lot of things going on pretty soon.For instance, Wedesday or Thursday, Tim is going to head out and talk to some of the guys down at Parks and Rec., about the use of the basketball courts as a site for the skatepark. Also, we are gonna have an informal meeting sometime in the near future, down at the community center, I’m sure Tim will inform you about that later. Also I thought that we could get a story in Nelson County Life. They’re running out of things to print anyway, we could probably get a 12 page feature. We are getting the word out fairly quickly, considering we’ve been at this like what, two weeks? But the real challenge of raising money is lo oming, and we need to think big, but not too big. Like, maybe we could get a concrete pad laid down, or some concrete quarterpipes, or even a bowl if we stretch. If anyone has any fund raising ideas, post them below. We need all the help we can get.”