STATE COLLEGE — Woodward PA, the renowned action sports park, will donate proceeds from its monthly open ride night to the High Point Skatepark project — State College’s fundraising effort to build a free public skate park at High Point Park.
The event will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the camp, 134 Sports Camp Drive in Woodward.
“We are so proud and excited to support a free public skatepark in our own backyard in State College,” said Chris Hayton, skateboard program manager for Woodward PA. “With free skateparks at High Point Park and the professional facilities at Woodward, the sky’s the limit for local skaters. I can’t wait to see the talent pool grow.”
Two indoor and heated spaces will be open during the event. The cost is $39 and pre-registration is encouraged at woodwardpa.com/events/open-ride-nights. Helmets and an updated waiver are required to participate.
All action sports athletes are welcome, including skateboard, BMX, scooter and roller skate riders. However, only 150 spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
In addition to supporting the State College project and skating in the world-class facilities, the High Point Skatepark volunteer committee is also bringing in VIPs from surrounding areas for the event. Professional skateboarder and State College native Jake Johnson is making sure of that.
“I’m calling in favors and getting a bunch of friends to show up,” he said. “I really hope the local kids in the community come to skate with some of the best.”
High Point Skatepark will also have a booth at the event where the community can learn more about the project and buy merchandise like T-shirts, signed posters and more.
The fundraiser at Woodward follows a wave of momentum for building the $1.9 million skatepark.
Late last year, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the state would invest $250,000 in the park through a grant to improve recreation and community revitalization across the state.
In August, skateboard legend Tony Hawk’s organization, The Skatepark Project, also announced it was giving a $30,000 grant to the project.
The 20,000-square-foot park is planned to replace an unused baseball field in High Point Park — a six-acre park off of Whitehall Road. The park is accessible by car and bus off Whitehall Road and a bike path. It’s less than a mile from the State College Area High School, Delta Middle School and Corl Street Elementary School and 1.7 miles from the center of downtown.
Centre Region Parks and Recreation has agreed to maintain and regularly check on the skatepark.
So far, the committee has raised more than $1 million. They anticipate being able to bring in the rest — but only if they can prove to big donors that our community is behind the project.
To donate, visit highpointskatepark.com.
