Skate Festival This Month Hopes

To Put Park Project Back On The Boards

By Kendra Bobowick

He was doing a fakie when his chucks slipped off the deck. A tear in the coping ruined his grind and sent him sprawling instead.

Need a translation? Skateboarders have their own sport, and their own lingo: He was going backwards when his shoes slipped off the skateboard. A tear in the material on the lip of a ramp ruined his trick and sent him sprawling. It may sound dangerous, but all sports carry risks, require skills, and turn out athletes who aspire to do better than the last time.

Newtown has its soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, but unfortunately, skateboarders rummage for the corner of a parking lot, occupy a lazy cul-de-sac, or take up space in their driveways riding homemade half-pipes. But a change is coming.

Saturday, July 26, could be a magic date for the much-hoped-for Newtown Skateboard Park. The day promises a fundraising festival at Dickinson Park from 11 am to 6 pm, filled with food, entertainment, prizes, a skateboarding competition, children’s fun, and more. The entrance fee is a donation, “anything you can afford,” said parent and event coordinator Lori Capozziello. Donations can be anonymous or guests can fill out a receipt and the amount will go on the DonateToSkate.com website under various categories. Donation of $250 can be claimed on taxes. 

Competitors in beginners, intermediate, and advanced classes do not have to pay an entrance fee, but will need $20 to sign up.

“This is usually the way it is done,” explained Ms Capozziello.

“Come and check out the amazing extreme sport of skateboarding!” shouts the website.

“There is so much excitement about it; so many people are reaching out to help,” Ms Capozziello said this week. Although the festival will be about fun and information, she stressed safety above all. With rounds of competitions planned, she repeated that the participants must wear helmets. If a parent cannot accompany the participant, the he or she must have a signature and photocopy of a parents’ ID when they arrive at the park. Sign up and registration forms are available at the Parks and Recreation Department or by downloading the paperwork through DonateToSkate.com.

Both the town and the recreation department support a skate park with a tentative location identified at Fairfield Hills. With $11,000 already in the skate park fund, according to Ms Capozziello, she hopes the coming fundraising festival will give the campaign a significant push toward the anticipated $65,000 park.

The day starts off with one hour of free skate. During that time Vertigo Skate Park members from Brookfield will help categorize individual competitors’ skill levels. Rampage LLC, a skate park design and construction company out of Bridgeport, will provide the ramps and rails.

Prizes, awards and first, second and third place prizes will go to the winners. Live bands playing throughout the day will include The Risk, The Screw Ups, New Urban Sprawl, Darwin Abrams, Yes Please, The Yellow Team, Safe To Stay, and others.

Food will include pizza from My Place Restaurant, with all proceeds going to the gift fund for Donate To Skate. Hot dogs, candy, chips soda, ice cream, and more will also be available, as well as free water.

Newtown Youth & Family Services will provide face painting, tattoos, and art activities for younger children, who will also be invited to purchase small $1 treasure chests to take home.

Families are encouraged to bring blankets or portable chairs to watch the competition; however, there is plenty of seating and shade under the pavilion.

High school-age students who need to complete community service hours can volunteer at the festival.

For further questions or to volunteer, contact Ms Capozziello at Lawribecap@aol.com.