For the past three years, owner of Progression Board Shop (formerly White Mountain Skate Shop), Matt Eddy, has been working towards the development of a skatepark in Plymouth. When Eddy first opened White Mountain three years ago, he started a petition that gathered names of those in favor of a having a skatepark built in town. With support from the Pemi Youth Center, the idea of establishing a skatepark was brought to the town’s attention. Before this petition, efforts towards establishing a skatepark in Plymouth were not taken seriously.
PSU Senior Timothy Hardtke, an English major, said, “Plymouth really doesn’t have anything going for it’s giant skate community. I’ve been here for four years and since my first week here I’ve wondered why there isn’t a skatepark, especially considering how many skateboarders there are at this school.” So, ‘Why isn’t there a skatepark in Plymouth?’ seems to be the question. A skatepark would provide an opportunity for those who want to learn how to skateboard with a safe environment.
Eddy stated, ” [A skatepark would] give the skateboarders a place to go instead of looking for empty parking lots and riding in the streets.” According to the Plymouth Police Department’s website, there are town ordinances that actually provide boundaries where skateboarding is and is not allowed. The following is taken directly from the Plymouth Police Department’s website: “No person shall ride a skate board on any sidewalk or street in the following area of the town of Plymouth delineated by the following boundaries: From and including the south sidewalk of Highland Street from Main Street to Langdon Street, then north to and including the north sidewalk of Merrill Street from Langdon Street to Main Street. From and including the west sidewalk of Langdon Street (within the above southerly and northerly boundaries) to and including Main Street and its adjacent sidewalks. Main Street and its adjacent sidewalks in its entirety. Any person violating the provisions of this ordinance shall be fined up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) and/or the skateboard may be confiscated by the Police Department of the town.”
These boundaries have created tension between students at PSU and the local authorities. “I know like fifteen people who would have come to school at Plymouth if there were more for the skate scene. Instead they went to places like UVM where skateboarding is not only allowed, but embraced,” said PSU student Sam Goldberg-Jaffe. The university would not only benefit from a skatepark being built, but the town of Plymouth would ultimately flourish. “It could bring visitors to Plymouth that might benefit Main St. businesses,” Eddy added.
Eddy’s efforts hit a wall when there was discussion of where the skatepark could actually be built. If the skatepark is built on privately owned land, issues such as liability come into play, which only complicate the situation. At this point, the process quieted down until the spring of 2010 when Mike Currier, a social worker at Plymouth Regional High School, became involved with the efforts. “Mike coming on board has been pivotal. He’s brought in the right people to have on board,” Eddy said. “Mike’s pushing forward,” he added. Since Currier has been involved, Eddy’s efforts have been backed by the Plymouth Rotary Club, Plymouth State University, and local real estate mogul Alex Ray.
According to Currier via the “Plymouth Skatepark” Facebook page, Ray has agreed to lease a plot of land that’s known as either the Green Street extension or the Railroad extension (across the street from RiteAid, behind the thrift shop on the empty dirt lot). Finally, the location is looking more like a “done deal.”
Much of the community is unaware of the sheer number of skateboarders within their own town. After the October 11 fundraiser in the courthouse parking lot, its size will no longer be ignored considering at least 200 people of all ages showed up to support the cause. The fundraiser wound up raising around $1,700 for the future skatepark. “The goal is $200,000, which is a lot but there are a lot of grants available that the Plymouth skatepark could be eligible for,” Eddy said. “There seems to be a lot of community support,” he added. Professional snowboarders from the area, Pat Moore of Holderness and Chaz Gouldemond of Campton, have both become strong supporters of the cause and are doing their best to make a skatepark happen.
According to Eddy, Currier has been in contact with Breaking Grounds, a company based out of C.T. that specializes in building skateparks as well as other architectural support. “At this stage, it’s about fundraising,” Eddy concluded. Any donations, support, and ideas are welcome, but money is the most important thing at this stage of the process.
Anyone who is interested and wants to get involved with the process can add “Plymouth Skatepark” as a friend on Facebook to stay up to date. On Sun., Oct. 24, volunteers will be preparing the area where the park is eventually going to be built. Those who want to help make the park a reality are encouraged to get down there and lend a helping hand.