Silverton, OR

[Chad Balcom]

http://www.eastvalleynews.com/appeal/article.cfm?i=5165

Let’s all rally around getting a skate park

JOHN DORAN
Appeal Tribune
March 9

If the growing support for a skate park in Silverton has not been evident yet, one needed look no further than to the Silverton Elks Lodge Saturday night, where two bands from Silverton and two from Salem performed for free, donating all the proceeds to benefit a skate park being built in town.

There were more than 200 people in attendance, packed into the confines of the home of the gracious Elks, who also donated the use of their facility toward the cause.

The crowd was not just the 15-and-under crew that we see boarding all over town. Rather, there were moms and dads, college, high school, middle school and elementary school students, young professionals, fellow musicians and the like, all in attendance and all in support of building a skate park in Silverton.

It’s been in the news now for quite some time, ever since the fantastic YMCA-driven Extreme Sports Center closed down nearly four years ago.

The momentum of late, however, has dwindled. It’s time we resurface the obvious need for Silverton.

In the most recent city survey, 51 percent of Silverton residents who responded said they wanted to see more park space. Of all the respondents, 42 percent said they wanted to see a skate park.

Moreover, 73 percent of all respondents said they would support development of an outdoor skate park if it could be funded through private donations and grant monies.

That’s nearly half of Silverton who would like to see one and nearly 3/4 of the town who want it paid for privately.

There are many options to pursue when discussing how the park could be funded. Despite the concert’s resounding success, $800 doesn’t get skateboarders very far. The estimated cost is in the ballpark of $250,000 when design work and construction costs are factored.

There are many substantial private grants which could be utilized for design and materials costs, and with the growing support there should be enough willing help in town to lend a hand with the construction portion.

But it is not going to happen if we sit back and do nothing.

We applaud the four bands, the Elks, and the 200-plus people for voicing your support. Silverton needs a skate park.

We need to tirelessly go after all the grants necessary to make this happen.

Let’s get the ball rolling again and enable the half of our community who supports a skate park to have a positive place to vent their energy.

Slightly more than half of the survey respondents in 2001 voiced their support for a new and improved city swimming pool and look what happened.

It’s going to take a lot of community support, so let’s attack it together. And let’s do it now.

To find out more about the Silverton skate park, contact Jason Franz, (503) 873-0977 or Bryan Cosgrove, (503) 874-2205.

[Chad Balcom]

http://www.eastvalleynews.com/appeal/article.cfm?i=5120

Nerd concert to benefit skate park

BY JOHN DORAN
Appeal Tribune
March 2

Pull out the pocket protectors. Duct tape those bifocals.

It’s “Napoleon Dynamiteâ€

[Chad Balcom]

I just spoke with Bryan Cosgrove for a bit. Sounds like they are on the right track with quite a few concepts that we push for. Looks good!