Operation Skate Strives to Build Park, Improve Community

Building a skate park in Fernandina Beach will become a reality with Operation Skate, a local non-profit organization raising funds for a public park. The organization has raised more than $20,000, most of which has been raised in just the last five months.

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Fernandina Beach and its young residents are stepping up to solve a problem faced by the community. It is a common problem young people encounter across the streets of America. They are getting ticketed and even arrested - not for dealing drugs or stealing cars, not for robbing banks or driving drunk. Their crime is simply participating in the popular sport that they love: skateboarding.

Forbidden to skateboard in most public places, avid skateboarders have no choice but to break the law to practice and enjoy their sport. The solution in many communities to keep skateboarders off the streets and out of trouble is to build skate parks, which provide a safe, supervised and accessible structure for skateboarders, BMX bicyclists and in-line skaters.

Building a skate park in Fernandina Beach will become a reality with Operation Skate, a local non-profit organization raising funds for a public park. The organization has raised more than $20,000, most of which has been raised in just the last five months.

The kids are fully involved in making their vision come true and have been organizing an impressive series of fund-raising activities, ranging from a celebrity grocery bagging event at Publix to a car wash at McDonalds, from a Skate-N-Sketti dinner auction to parking cars during the Shrimp Festival. In April alone, the kids raised $4,000.

Thanks to the generosity of major financial supporters of the park, area businesses and individuals, Operation Skate has been able to raise a good amount of funds so far. However, the project requires $250,000 total and more donations are needed. These funds can be made up if 50 individuals or companies give $5000 or if 125 individuals or companies give $2,000. This goal is achievable, but only with the help of the community.

For those whose budgets do not permit cash donations, other ways to help include volunteering at fundraisers, giving of time and various resource contributions, as well as in-kind donations of services, talents and materials to built the park.

This effort stems from more than 15 years of local interest among extreme sport athletes. In a recent survey by the Fernandina Beach City Parks and Recreation Department, a skate park was overwhelmingly supported and the number-one request of the community. Based on this finding, Operation Skate was formed to coordinate the skate park effort between the City and the County.

Donations are tax-deductible and corporate sponsorship packages are available. To volunteer, learn more or donate toward the cause, please visit www.operationskate.org or call (904) 491-6652. Online donations are accepted.

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