Middletown Skatepark Fundraiser Scheduled for Saturday

Day by day, a group of dedicated locals are getting closer to their goal of helping rebuild the township’s skatepark.

A fundraising event has been scheduled for this upcoming Saturday at Falls Township Community Park’s skatepark.

The efforts for the new stakepark began as a response to the closing of the facility which stood in Middletown Community Park from about 2004 until 2014.

According to Paul Kopera, the assistant director of parks and recreation in Middletown, the original park was closed due to safety concerns. After 10 years of wear and tear, the equipment became unreliable.

In summer 2016, the park was finally taken down out of safety concerns. According to Kopera, the cost to replace the park will be about $200,000.

The fundraiser is being put on the skateboarders who want a new skatepark the most. Skaters found a DJ, food and raffle prizes for their upcoming event. All proceeds will go towards the skate park.

“The event this Saturday is truly a grassroots effort,” said Kopera.

The fundraiser is taking the form of a contest. Skaters can buy in for $15 and compete for various prizes.

“As a parks and recreation director, parent and member of the community, I love seeing this effort,” Kopera said. “I am just thrilled that it is taking off.”

According to Eric Gernavage, one of the skaters working for the next skate park, there will be more fundraisers in the coming months, including a skate jam at the location of the old Middletown skatepark.

“I had a place growing up where I could go, but when you don’t have obstacles and stuff, you’re pretty much stuck on the parking lot,” Gernavage said.

The Middletown skater said he really just wants kids growing up today to have similar opportunities to skate that he had.

At a recent Board of Supervisor’s meeting, board member Amy Strouse announced that another local contributor has come forth.

Brian Bentley, the owner of Brian’s Harley Davidson, made a contribution of $5,000 towards the playground. Adding to the other contributions the foundation has already received, donations and grant funding is now at $25,000.

The Middletown Community Foundation us helping pull together funding for the skatepark.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, weather permitting. Skaters should arrive about an hour early for registration. The rain date for the fundraiser is Saturday, April 15.

Further questions about the fundraiser can be directed to Gernavage at 267-980-0810.