TURNERS FALLS — After almost two decades of work toward providing the youth of Montague with a safe place to skateboard, Unity Skatepark is having its grand opening on Saturday.
The celebration is starting at noon at the skatepark and will feature live music, a skateboarding contest and a ribbon cutting celebration at 56 First St.
“We plan to give back to the community that did so much to take the skatepark from a dream to a reality,” said David Detmold, a member of the Unity Skatepark Committee, a volunteer committee made up of skaters and advocates.
State Rep. Stephen Kulik will attend and share the stage with town officials for the ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. There will be a skateboarding contest from 2 to 4 p.m. Skaters must sign up before 2 p.m.
While the grand opening is this weekend, skaters have been able to use the park since March, said Skatepark Committee volunteer Anne Jemas, a Turners Falls resident of 13 years.
When asked about the community response to the skatepark, Jemas said “Overwhelmingly positive from almost everyone, including people who were really either against the idea, or very hesitant about it, or about it being situated next to the playground at Unity Park.”
The town and Skatepark Committee worked together to launch the project. The total construction cost $390,650, of which a PARC grant from the Massachusetts Division of Conservation and Recreation covered $272,000, Detmold said.
“We are truly appreciative of all the support from individuals, local businesses, the town and the state who all worked together to make this happen,” said Detmold, who volunteered for three years to help construct the skatepark.
The volunteer skatepark committee also succeeded in raising more than $60,000 for the skatepark from raffles, poetry readings, can and bottle drives, benefit concerts and a skateboard art auction. With the solid backing of the community, Montague town meeting approved an additional $79,100 needed to fully fund the construction, Detmold said.
The rain date for this event is Sunday. For more information, visit turnersfallsriverculture.org.
You can reach Lisa Spear at:
lspear@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 280