How We Began...
What do we want to do?
- To develop a public skate park in Pike County.
- To include youth skaters in development and design of the park.
- To obtain property for the project from a city, the county, or another organization or individual.
- To demonstrate strong grassroots community support for the park in order to obtain grant funding to build the park.
- To include the community and local organizations in the project, such as service organizations, government, schools, churches, and law enforcement.
How did we begin?
Pike County Skaters began in July 2007 when 13 youth and 3 adults met at a private residence in Pittsfield. The Pittsfield Park Board agreed to allow the group to work towards their goal of developing a skateboard park in Pike County.
During Pig Days 2007, the Skaters showed their skills on a portable ramp at a booth on the town square. Responding to their enthusiasm for the project, over 660 Pike County citizens signed a petition in support of a skateboard park.
In October 2007, the Pittsfield Park Board designated the current Coultas Memorial Horseshoe Area of King Park as the future site of the Pike County Skate Park.
When the community was hit with devastating ice storms, the Skaters spent New Year's Eve 2007 clearing debri at the site.
In January 2008, the Illini Community Health Care Foundation agreed to act as fiscal sponsor of the Pike County Skaters. This meant the group did not have to spend the money, time, or effort to get their own 501c3 tax exempt status.
In April 2008, the Skaters earned over $455 in donations from campers at Pine Lakes Resort in Pittsfield. Youth skaters and supportive adults worked hard to help campers "spring clean" sites in preparation of the new season.
On May 29, 2008, American Ramp Company (ARC) of Joplin, MO made a presentation to the group. Pike County Skaters youth then compiled their "wish list" of obstacles for the park. ARC designers created the ultimate park incorporating all of those wishes. The Skaters reviewed and revised the design until reaching their ultimate Pike County Skate Park design.
Since their formation, Pike County Skaters have enjoyed ongoing newspaper articles, including some front page coverage, in the Pike Press, the Pike County Express, the Quincy Herald-Whig, and the Jacksonville Courier. The Skaters were thrilled to be featured on KHQA local news on August 17, 2008.
In the fall of 2008, the Skaters had a booth at the Pittsfield Fall Festival, Griggsville Apple Festival, and Milton Corn Carnival. The Skaters walked/skated in those parades as well as the Barry Apple Festival parade.
Refreshment Services Pepsi of Quincy supported the Skaters by donating prizes for a raffle during the festivals. At each event, several prizes (from an mp3 player to a digital camera to a DVD player to t-shirts) were given away. All entries were held and included in a grand prize give-away of a bike awarded at the Pike County Color Drive in October 2008.
Also raffled at Color Drive was a beautiful hand-crocheted aphgan donated by a grandmother of two skaters.
