Grant will go toward skatepark

The Kutztown Community Skatepark Association was recently awarded a $5,000 Tony Hawk Foundation grant toward building a skatepark at Kutztown Park.

Deborah Clauss, president of the Kutztown Community Skatepark Association, said that the group has been working since 2016 to build a skatepark in Kutztown.

“We are extremely grateful and honored to be chosen to receive a $5,000 grant from the THF. The process is very lengthy and the competition for funds is very tough,” said Clauss.

She said that the grant funds are being used for the construction of a concrete multi-use skatepark inside the Kutztown Park. The park will accommodate skateboards, scooters, bmx bikes, and rollerblading.

The Kutztown skatepark project was born out of a need to find a safe place for her son

to skateboard.

“My 9-year-old son loves to skateboard and scooter. There is no safe place in Kutztown to practice these sports. One day he was trying to skateboard and was almost struck by a vehicle. I decided to express my concerns on a public Facebook page and I met Andrew Kunkle, another local parent and skateboarder who shared my concerns,” she said.

Clauss and Kunkle became partners and formed the Kutztown Community Skatepark Association, an approved 501c3 non-profit association, with the goal of creating a safe place to perform alternative wheeled sports inside the borough.

“There are multiple benefits to having expanded use of our beautiful Kutztown Park. A Skatepark will specifically target youth ages 10 and up, where are current playground equipment does not offer much for the over 10 crowd,” said Clauss. “Our nation is seeing the worst opioid epidemic in the history of the nation. Researchers have identified sports and recreation as a protective factor for at risk youth. Having a Skatepark that will attract older youth to a public space and healthy active sports are synonymous with these identified protective factors.”

The Skatepark will be located at the site of the old Roller Rink inside the main Kutztown Park, just next to the playground. The Skatepark is a 2,200 square foot custom concrete design. The design was custom created for Kutztown by Arment Concrete, an experienced Skatepark and construction design company, said Clauss.

“The Skatepark is a very exciting edition to our local park and a wonderful transition to the space of the old roller rink,” she said.

Kutztown Community Skatepark Association continues to need financial support. They have raised more than 60 percent of their needed funds but still need to raise the final $9,000.

Contributions can be made via the Facebook page for the Kutztown Community Skatepark, at Go Fund me (Kutztown community Skatepark) or mail checks made out to Kutztown Community Skatepark Association to 104 Pine St., Kutztown PA, 19530.

KCSPA is an approved 501c3 non profit association.