‘Fun raiser’ set to benefit planned Princeton skateboard park

Nov. 18 event part of an awareness campaign for $250,000 facility

By: Courtney Gross
   Organizers are inviting residents to bring their skills and skateboards to Princeton’s first skateboarding and family event at Community Park Pool next month to raise awareness for the community’s drive to bring a skate park to Hilltop Park in Princeton.
   Called a "fun raiser" rather than "fundraiser" by Princeton Borough Councilman and Princeton Parks Alliance President Andrew Koontz, "Skate Jam," is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18.
   The event, co-sponsored by Princeton Parks Alliance and the Princeton Recreation Department, is intended to kick off an awareness drive that encourages community participation in the proposed construction of a skate park in Princeton.
   Above all, Mr. Koontz said, the skate park’s construction needs to involve skateboarders, who will have an opportunity to submit design suggestions and sign up to participate in discussions with the park’s future developers at "Skate Jam."
   In an attempt to bring "unstructured" play to Princeton, Mr. Koontz said the proposed park would give adolescents who are not interested in organized sports, such as football or baseball, an opportunity to exercise.
   "Skate parks are generating a lot of interest lately, because it is a free structure, you come and go as you please and it is a way for kids to be active and literally do their own thing," Mr. Koontz said.
   The event will include demonstrations by professional skateboarders from Woodward Sports Camp in Pennsylvania and live music from local rock band EarWax. Princeton skateboarders will also have an opportunity to test out skating equipment provided by Woodward.
   Although admission is free, a donation of $10 per family is suggested, which will go toward the Princeton Parks Alliance’s Skatepark Fund.
   At Recreation Department Executive Director Jack Roberts’ request, $125,000 was allocated jointly from Princeton Borough and Princeton Township for the construction of the skate park, but the entire park is expected to cost $250,000.
   Mr. Koontz said the Princeton Parks Alliance has applied for county funding targeted to fight childhood obesity that could cover the remainder of the cost of the skate park’s construction. Though the grant is not guaranteed, the councilman said the outlook does look "optimistic."
   Once the entire funding is secured, Mr. Koontz said, a skate park contractor would be selected.
   The approximately 8,500-square-foot skate park, he added, would be below ground level, consist of poured concrete and incorporate all levels of skaters — beginners, intermediates and advanced.
   To contribute to the skate park fund, make checks payable to Princeton Parks Alliance Skatepark Fund and send them to Princeton Parks Alliance, 23 Sergeant St., Princeton, NJ 08540.