The Skatepark of Baltimore is holding a free event to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of Phase II of a public, concrete skatepark at Roosevelt Park in Hampden, located at 1121 W 36th St., on June 21, 2016 from 3:00pm to 8:00 p.m. The ceremonial presentation is set to begin at 6:00pm. This date coincides with the start of summer and “Go-Skateboarding Day” founded by the International Association of Skateboard Companies as a day for skateboarders to have fun and raise awareness about the issues we face.
For the past ten years, the all-volunteer based nonprofit has advocated on behalf of the 30,000 skateboarders of Baltimore to build a world-class, concrete skatepark in the City of Baltimore.Thanks to its partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks (BCRP), the first phase of the skatepark, a 5,000 square foot concrete bowl and surrounding banks, was completed in February 2014. Phase I of the $180,000 project was funded by donations made to the organization by the Abell Foundation, Tony Hawk Foundation, Clayton Baker Trust and individuals which was matched by BCRP.
Supported by nearly half a million dollars in funding from the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore and donations made to the organization, Phase II construction will be underway this summer for an 11,000 square foot concrete street-plaza located directly next to the concrete bowl.
Bill Vondrasek, Interim Director of Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, and Stephanie Murdock, Founder and President of the Skatepark of Baltimore, will lead opening remarks for a crowd of skateboarders, community members and well-wishers at 6:00 p.m. Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor City of Baltimore, and City Council President, Bernard Jack Young will welcome guests to the evening’s ceremonial groundbreaking event.
Scheduled to appear at the ceremony will be members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland State Legislature (District 40) including State Senator Catherine Pugh and Delegate Barbara Robinson.The ceremony will also be attended by members of the Baltimore City Council: Mary Pat Clarke, District 14, Bill Henry, District 4, Nick Mosby, District 7, and Pete Welch, District 9.
The event will feature a DJ throughout the day and skating by local and regional skaters. Free Hawaiian Shave Ice will be available to the first 100 skaters and food will be available for purchase from area merchants.
Founded in 2006, the Skatepark of Baltimore, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to building a public, concrete, destination skatepark in Baltimore. Located at Roosevelt Park in Hampden, a neighborhood in northwestern Baltimore, the organization anticipates that once the park is completed, it will serve as many as 100 youth a day and up to 36,500 a year throughout the City of Baltimore.
