At its first meeting of 2006, the Tony Hawk Foundation Board of Directors voted to award $150,000 in grants to 19 public-skatepark projects in the U.S. Formed in 2002 by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, the Foundation has helped hundreds of communities address the need for safe, quality places for kids to skate. Through grants and its Technical Assistance program, the Foundation provides advisory and financial aid to low-income communities developing free, public skateparks.
Skateboarding is one of the fastest-growing sports today, and has been widely recognized as a safe and healthy activity. Currently only about 2,000 skateparks serve the needs of more than 13-million skateboarders in the U.S. While municipalities are eagerly pursuing skateparks of their own, most have no experience developing the specialized facilities. The Tony Hawk Foundation Technical Assistance Program offers help to ensure that the parks are properly designed and built.
Since 2002, the Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded 291 skatepark grants, worth more than $1.3-million. The Foundations Board of Directors meets twice annually to review grant applications from municipalities and community groups pursuing public skateparks. The Board favors projects that demonstrate the greatest need, significant involvement of skaters at every step of the skatepark process, and a commitment to hiring experienced skatepark specialists to ensure a quality park. Of the 100 projects that applied, the following were awarded grants this term:
- Cheyenne, WY $25,000
- Irrigon, OR $20,000
- Grand Marais, MN $10,000
- Butte-Silver Bow, MT $10,000
- Portland, OR $10,000
- Galveston, TX $10,000
- Groveland, CA $ 5,000
- Danville, IL $ 5,000
- Fowler, IN $ 5,000
- La Grange, IN $ 5,000
- Aplington, IA $ 5,000
- Preston, IA $ 5,000
- Gladstone, MI $ 5,000
- Gladwin, MI $ 5,000
- Neosho, MO $ 5,000
- Hebron, ND $ 5,000
- Tigard, OR $ 5,000
- Worland, WY $ 5,000
- Kerrville, TX $ 5,000
The next deadline for Tony Hawk Foundation grant applications is October 1, 2006. More information regarding deadlines and applicant criteria is available on the Foundation's Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org
