Reachin' out for ideas...read on:
The Tony Hawk Foundation awarded our local park committee the funds to open a skatepark in our town (after 10 years of planning!). The committee disbanded, the local parks and rec gave me the project (my shop is not only tattoos but skateboards as well). They just gave me the key to the park in October so I haven't been doing much due to the season and the Holidays but now it's time to start planning.
So here's the problem: It's currently nothing more than an asphalted blacktop! There's no equipment, NOTHING. I've tried in the past and we made small progress and also donated a large half-pipe to the project. We had 2 pro-skaters who came in, got the community all jazzed up and the media had a field day reporting on the wonderful things that BS Tattoo and Skate Co. (my shop) and these pro-skaters were gonna do for the youth in the town. BOTH PRO SKATERS FLAKED after the cameras left and left me 'holding the bag' and having to answer questions to members of the community. I have no answers, I have no resources. I have no idea where to go from here. A letter writing campaign? That never gets anywhere because companies get begged for money all the time. A fundraiser? I did that.... not gonna work again. The Tony Hawk Foundation monies were exhausted before I ever came onto the project. According to the County Parks and Rec board, it was used for the drainage and blacktop. I think that sounds shady, but there's nothing I can do about it. We just need fucking equipment and I can't continue to bring in a bunch of "pro skaters" who don't keep their promises.
One of the skaters was splashed on 3 different newspapers and on the TV promising our Mayor that the sudden death of her teenage skater son wouldn't be forgotten and he'd "Do all he could" to make the park a reality. Well that asshole skipped town, not only on us and the project but apparently on his pregnant girlfriend, too. And now when I see the Mayor I'm saddened and feel responsible.
I gotta get this fucking park functional but feel totally lost as to where to begin after all the chaos.
What about the large half-pipe WE donated, you ask? Well, the other pro-skater who promised to reassemble the ramp, worked for one day, left it in disarray as it sits today.
Let's clear this up, too: I can't put a large ramp together, I wouldn't even know where to begin and it was his project of which he started and just left a big mess. He was a pro and that's what the Parks and Rec required for any construction for insurance purposes.
I'm open to ideas....
Thoughts?
The Tony Hawk Foundation awarded our local park committee the funds to open a skatepark in our town (after 10 years of planning!). The committee disbanded, the local parks and rec gave me the project (my shop is not only tattoos but skateboards as well). They just gave me the key to the park in October so I haven't been doing much due to the season and the Holidays but now it's time to start planning.
So here's the problem: It's currently nothing more than an asphalted blacktop! There's no equipment, NOTHING. I've tried in the past and we made small progress and also donated a large half-pipe to the project. We had 2 pro-skaters who came in, got the community all jazzed up and the media had a field day reporting on the wonderful things that BS Tattoo and Skate Co. (my shop) and these pro-skaters were gonna do for the youth in the town. BOTH PRO SKATERS FLAKED after the cameras left and left me 'holding the bag' and having to answer questions to members of the community. I have no answers, I have no resources. I have no idea where to go from here. A letter writing campaign? That never gets anywhere because companies get begged for money all the time. A fundraiser? I did that.... not gonna work again. The Tony Hawk Foundation monies were exhausted before I ever came onto the project. According to the County Parks and Rec board, it was used for the drainage and blacktop. I think that sounds shady, but there's nothing I can do about it. We just need fucking equipment and I can't continue to bring in a bunch of "pro skaters" who don't keep their promises.
One of the skaters was splashed on 3 different newspapers and on the TV promising our Mayor that the sudden death of her teenage skater son wouldn't be forgotten and he'd "Do all he could" to make the park a reality. Well that asshole skipped town, not only on us and the project but apparently on his pregnant girlfriend, too. And now when I see the Mayor I'm saddened and feel responsible.
I gotta get this fucking park functional but feel totally lost as to where to begin after all the chaos.
What about the large half-pipe WE donated, you ask? Well, the other pro-skater who promised to reassemble the ramp, worked for one day, left it in disarray as it sits today.
Let's clear this up, too: I can't put a large ramp together, I wouldn't even know where to begin and it was his project of which he started and just left a big mess. He was a pro and that's what the Parks and Rec required for any construction for insurance purposes.
I'm open to ideas....
Thoughts?
heartbaker:
I'd make suggestions if I knew anything about skateboarding... but I dont 