It’s still early days for the West Virginia Skate Collective, as indicated by the agenda for its meeting this past Saturday at Marilla Skate Park.
Introductions, brainstorming fundraising ideas and potential sub-committees.
Skaters and community members took refuge from the heat in the limited shade of a portable canopy as they discussed potential fundraisers. Some were just there to skate, drawn in by free stickers and water but some had come with a purpose.
Even the name West Virginia Skate Collective was only chosen a few weeks ago, but the group’s guiding principle has been cemented from the start.
All Wheels Welcome.
“Our objective is to work towards getting a new, all-inclusive, community-funded concrete skate park for our community and the surrounding areas to enjoy. One that encompasses not only advanced riders but beginner riders,” said Jackie Jeffries, chairman of the West Virginia Skate Collective’s organizing committee.
Concrete is the preferred building material for a new park due in part to its durability, but also its ease of riding for skateboarders, roller skaters and bike riders alike. Metal ramps, like those at Marilla, are notorious in skating circles for being particularly slippery, as well as getting uncomfortably hot in the summer sun.
The existing Marilla Skate Park is still beloved, drawing visitors from all over the region, but it isn’t always conducive to the group’s all-inclusive ethos.
“Whenever I first started skating, this park really intimidated me,” said Hollie Gregory, 23. “Everything is really big … it’s built for pretty advanced skaters.”
Gregory has been roller skating for two years, and while she now feels comfortable in her abilities to enjoy the park, she acknowledges that wasn’t always the case.
“As a beginner, it’s super intimidating to come here and see all this stuff that’s taller than you. If we had a new skate park that had beginner sections with advanced sections, everyone could enjoy it.”
Jeffries said the Skate Collective started to coalesce at the start of 2020 with the hopes of improving and possibly renovating the existing skate park. But like many community activities, things were quickly upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, including initial talks with BOPARC.
In an email, BOPARC Executive Director Melissa Wiles said, “We are interested in renovating and improving many aspects of our system, including the skate park. As to construction of a new park and even major renovations, large projects do require a qualification and bidding process, as well as public input, concept design and construction design.”
The West Virginia Skate Collective remains committed to improving the existing Marilla Skate Park, but the group is also looking for locations further afield in Monongalia County for a new, concrete park.
As indicated by Wiles’ statement, any project – be it improvements at Marilla or the construction of a new concrete skate park – will take a lot of time and community effort.
For now, the group is holding a logo design competition with a deadline of June 30. Specifications can be found on Facebook or Instagram (@WVSkateCollective), and submissions should be sent to wvskaatecollective@gmail.com.
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