The Tony Hawk Foundation is awarding the city of Allentown a $10,000 grant for a skate park at Jordan Park.
“I want to thank Tony Hawk and The Tony Hawk Foundation for approving our grant application,” said Mayor Ray O’Connell. “This skate park will be a big addition to the current small skateboard obstacles in Keck Park. It will also add to the exercise stations installed in Jordan Park a couple of years ago that open-up park equipment to people of all ages.”
The skatepark will be located at the site of the former clay tennis courts.
“The planning and design of the skate park incorporated input, vision and feedback from users who attended three community meetings,” Allentown Department of Parks & Recreation Director Karen El-Chaar said. “I know they are going to be very pleased with the finished product.”
This is the second grant the city has received for the project.
In November 2018 the city was awarded a $300,000 matching grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR).
Work will include construction of an ADA accessible skate park, pedestrian walkways, stormwater management measures, landscaping and other site improvements. Fencing and signage will also be installed. Total cost of Phase I of the project is estimated at more than $500,000.
Design for the skate park is being done by Grindline Skateparks of Seattle, WA.
Tony Hawk is an American professional skateboarder, actor and owner of skateboard company Birdhouse. Millions of people own his skateboarding video games which first went on the market in 1999.
The Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002. According to its website, the Foundation “supports recreational programs focusing on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities, and other causes in the U.S. and overseas. The Foundation favors projects that have strong community involvement, grassroots fundraising, and a base of support from skaters, parents, law enforcement and local leaders.”
The Foundation has awarded more than $5.7 million to public skatepark projects in all 50 states.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
