Village of Allegany Receives Skatepark Grant
Village of Allegany Receives Skatepark Grant
Allegany River Skatepark receives $300,000 Built to Play grant from The Skatepark Project
Allegany River Skatepark advocates, led by Jennifer DeLong (center) with Mayor Gregory Pearl and TSP manager Trevor Staples
VILLAGE OF ALLEGANY, NY - The Allegany River Skatepark group, in partnership with the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) and the Village of Allegany, have been awarded a grant of $300,000 from The Skatepark Project for the construction of a permanent skatepark in the Village of Allegany. A grant-signing ceremony took place on Wednesday, January 26 at the Allegany Village Building, 106 E. Main St., Allegany, NY 14706.
The Built to Play Skatepark Grant provides $250,000 for the skatepark construction, and an additional $50,000 for environmental features to be incorporated into the design of the skatepark.
Since 2018, community members in the Village of Allegany have been pursuing a Built to Play Skatepark Grant from The Skatepark Project (formerly known as The Tony Hawk Foundation). Through hard work, communication, and rallying skateboarders and BMXers throughout the region, the Allegany River Skatepark group has raised funds, and built partnerships with local and regional organizations.
“On behalf of all of us at CRCF, we want to congratulate the Allegany River Skatepark on receiving this grant,” said Karen Niemic Buchheit, CRCF executive director. “This grant will have a remarkable footprint and will provide a first-class space for recreation for youth and adults in the area to enjoy skateboarding, bmx and more.”
Village of Allegany Mayor Gregory Pearl was one of the first supporters of the skatepark effort. “A skatepark will build community and be a positive asset to ensure that our area youth can thrive,” Mayor Pearl remarked.
Jennifer DeLong, lead community advocate for the Allegany River Skatepark, has shown that all it takes is a small group of individuals with a vision to keep a dream alive. She shares that “it was a long road with a lot of hours of hard work in our spare time outside of work and family, but it will all be worth it to see this free recreational facility that our young people will be able to use for decades to come.”
Trevor Staples, Built to Play Project Manager for The Skatepark Project says, “For over three years, we at The Skatepark Project have been working alongside the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to help communities like the Village of Allegany get their kids active and outdoors. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has seen the need for public skateparks in the region, and provides funding for those communities that wish to work to develop them.”
For more information on the Allegany River Skatepark and how you can help, visit @alleganyriverskatepark on Facebook and Instagram.