All Hands on Deck
Skateboarder inspires parents, others to create a skate park for the city
When 5-year-old Riley Stott had a $20 bill burning a hole in his pocket four years ago, his parents, Lauren and Todd Stott, never would have thought that spending the money on a skateboard would change all of them so much.
Riley picked out a cheap Tony Hawk-edition skateboard that day, and as his mom, Lauren Stott, said, “The rest is history.”
“The minute his feet hit that deck, he was on a roll,” she said of Riley. “He hasn’t slowed down a bit since his first ride, but finding places, especially safe places, for him to skate wasn’t easy.”
Lauren Stott is the branch manager at the Main Street First Community Bank branch in Batesville, and Todd Stott owns a barbershop, Sweeney’s Men’s Grooming, at 134 E. Main St. in Batesvile.
Both Todd and Lauren grew up in Independence County, with Todd graduating from Southside High School, and Lauren is a Newark native, so they are familiar with what activities and places to go are available when kids are involved. Riley, who is now 9, is an avid skateboarder, and Boston, 13, plays basketball.
“I actually remember when there was a skate half-pipe ramp at the park by the river,” Todd said. “Now, there really isn’t a place for the kids to skate that is 100 percent safe. Sure, there are parking lots and Main Street, but there just isn’t a designated spot for skaters.”
The Stotts, along with other kids from Batesville, have been lucky enough to be allowed to skate in and around the Main Street area, but traffic is still an issue, as well as safety concerns.
“We have been pretty lucky and have only been asked to leave one area when Riley has been out skating,” Todd said. “We always say that skateboarding isn’t a crime, but trespassing is,” and we don’t want to teach our kids that it’s OK to just skate anywhere they please, but we also want to make sure they have a safe, legal place to skate.”
So with the help of friends Brice and Haley Stephens and Dustyn and Carly Bork, the Stotts brainstormed on what could be done to help the skateboarding
community find a safe space.
“The inspiration to keep and attract young people to Batesville is so important,” Dustyn Bork said. “What is good for skaters is what is good for Batesville. We have a supportive community and a lot of activities, but we are currently lacking a skate park.”
The couples decided to create something from nothing on their own, and it’s been a success so far.
“This truly is a grassroots campaign,” Lauren said. “We all just put our ideas together and decided the best way to kick everything off was to have an event. Luckily, we had the support of Main Street Batesville to have the event there, and we were able to have a block party.”
The group came up with the name All Hands on Deck, and the first fundraiser took place July 31 with food vendors, temporary ramps and an art exhibit displaying skateboards that had been painted and created just for the day.
The art exhibit was in conjunction with the Batesville Area Arts Council, and skateboards were sold for $125 each.
After the success from the first fundraiser, the group decided to have another event called The Big Flea and sold everything from vintage clothing to furniture.
“The entire community has been so great,” Lauren said. “So far, we have been able to raise more than $10,000, and that just wouldn’t be possible without the community’s support.”
The Stotts’ dream is to build a skate park in downtown Batesville, and once the property is finalized and purchased, the creation of the park will need to take place. Luckily, that is where Brice Stephens comes into play.
Stephens has been an avid skateboarder for more than 25 years, and his input has been vital since day 1 on what should be expected for a park in Batesville, Todd said.
“We got really lucky when Brice and Haley came aboard with this project,” Todd said. “Brice knows what a skate park needs and what it doesn’t need. A skateboard park doesn’t need to be pretty, but it does need to flow, and Brice understands that.”
“Correct, prefabricated parks are not for real skaters,” Stephens said. “Skaters need something that is indestructible with a smooth, flowing momentum. It’s that uniqueness that will draw in skaters and families from all over.”
Ultimately, the skate park will be designed to include elements for all wheeled sports, Stephens said.
“We want kids out there with bikes, roller blades and skates,” he said. “It will also be handicap-accessible and a safe place for the community.”
The organizers said they hope the skate park will also bring in people from surrounding areas or even other states to skate.
“You know, when we go on vacation, we factor in a skate park,” Lauren said. “Most of the time, if there isn’t something like that for Riley or a basketball court for Boston, we won’t go. We want people to visit the area to skate, and when they do that, they will also eat at local restaurants and shop here, too. It’s really a win-win for everyone.”
The next event for All Hands on Deck will be a Sip and Shop for a Cause at the Olde Town Mall on Main Street on Dec. 18. Tickets to the event are $5 each, and proceeds will help fund All Hands on Deck.
“I am so excited about this event,” Lauren said. “We were selected to benefit from this year’s event. A huge thanks to Jessica Bishop, owner of Olde Town Mall, and we couldn’t be happier.”
For more information on All Hands on Deck or to make a donation, contact Lauren Stott via the group’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/allhandsondeckbatesville.