Following three years of fundraising and a year of construction, the Ellicottville Skatepark Committee (SK8EVL) and the Village of Ellicottville announce the grand opening date of the new concrete skatepark, located inside Ellicottville’s Village Park.
The celebration is set for Friday, June 30, 2023, at 4 p.m. All are encouraged to attend.
The skatepark, designed and built by Grindline of Seattle, WA, is a culmination of the passion of local skateboarding advocates and a matching grant awarded by The Skatepark Project and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.
With title sponsorship for the project supported by the New Car Dealers of WNY Charitable Foundation, the skatepark will be named the New Car Dealers of WNY Ellicottville Skatepark.
“On behalf of SK8EVL, we can’t thank the New Car Dealers of WNY Charitable Foundation enough for their support in this endeavor,” said Brenda Perks, SK8EVL lead advocate. “Their $100,000 donation turned into $200k as a result of The Skatepark Project and RCW Jr. Foundation’s Built to Play matching grant program. Add to that all the support we’ve received from businesses and community members right here in Ellicottville, as well as support from the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, and we now have a state-of-the-art facility that welcomes all ages, all skill levels, and most importantly, a safe space where our youth can be active, develop friendships and express themselves through the sport of skateboarding.”
Built to Play Skatepark Grants are offered through a partnership between The Skatepark Project and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The grant initiative offers matching grant funds of up to $250,000.
The Built to Play Skatepark Program supports community groups and municipal entities throughout Western NY and SE Michigan that are seeking to create free, public skateparks that serve low-income communities.
Built to Play Skatepark Grants also include an additional $50,000 to fund processes and design features that lessen the environmental impact of the skatepark. Ellicottville received the full match as well as the environmental impact award.
CRCF Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit praised the SK8EVL committee for their efforts to raise funds for the skatepark project.
“It is no small feat for a group of volunteers to raise $250,000,” said Buchheit. “It is a testament to the dedication of Brenda and the SK8EVL committee that they were able to raise such a total for this skatepark. Because of their efforts, there will be an incredible space for skateboarders, BMX riders and more that is unlike anything in Cattaraugus County to date”
The June 30 grand opening celebration will feature entertainment, food trucks, a vendor village and of course, skateboarding. For more information about the new skatepark and up-to-date details about the grand opening, follow @sk8evl on Instagram and Facebook. To learn more about The Skatepark Project, go to skatepark.org.
The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).
