Skate park receives $10,000 in grant funds

The Razors Empowering Developmental Growth Experience (EDGE) Skate Park recently received two grants, including a $10,000 grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation, named after the long-time professional skateboarder.

The park was an Eagle project for AHS student Coalbey Murphy.

Kathy Murphy, who serves as the project advisor/secretary, stated the nonprofit organization first applied for grant funds in the fall of 2007 but was denied because “they felt at that point we weren't far enough (along) in our fund-raising.”

The skate park applied for a second time earlier this year, at which time the nonprofit had raised cash and in-kind donations totaling about $42,000.

Murphy said, “We felt pretty confident that we might receive a grant this time around because we showed we had constructed part of the park. I (also) had a good feeling because they had contacted us several times for additional information.”

When the park applied for grant funds earlier this year, Murphy commented the cost of the half-pipe, the second phase of the project, is estimated at $12,500 and the park subsequently applied for $13,000 in grants through the Alleghany County Ministerium because the park would need a tax-exempt letter in order to qualify for grant funds. She explained while the skate park is nonprofit; they opted not to pursue applying for a tax-exempt status because the account at a local bank would only be active until the completion of the project.

When asked about her reaction to the news of the park receiving $10,000 in grant funds, Murphy replied, “I was ecstatic about it and I was calling everybody; I called the high school so they could announce it over the intercom. For us to get a grant, it really is a big deal; we're on the map.”

To learn more about the skate park, go online at skaterazorsedge.com.

According to information from the Tony Hawk Foundation, out of the 60 applicants that submitted requests for grant funds, the foundation's board of directors selected 27 communities to receive grant funds from $5,000 to $25,000.

Communities that received $25,000 in grant funds were Harrison, Ark., Bemidji, Minn. and Columbia, S.C. Along with Sparta, additional recipients of $10,000 were Imperial Beach, Calif., Owensboro, Ky., Doniphan, Mo., Rochester, N.Y., Philadelphia, Pa., Walla Walla, Wash. and Stevens Point, Wis. Recipients of $5,000 in grant funds from the Tony Hawk Foundation were Mena, Ark., Greenville, Ill., Greenbush, Ill., Pittsfield, Ill., Greenbush, Minn., Perham, Minn., Ironton, Ohio.

 

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