Eau Claire Skaters Association hosts skatepark fundraiser at The District Company
Local Skaters continue funding efforts in order to help build skatepark in Boyd Park
Photo by File Photo
Chris Johnson, owner of Passion Board Shop stands in his store downtown, located at 305 S. Barstow St. Johnson and others raised money Saturday for a proposed second Eau Claire stakepark.
February 3, 2015
Eau Claire’s The District Company hosted a fundraiser Saturday which offered more than 120 different flavors of bottled soda, fresh Toppers pizza, skate videos and games galore on hand.
It was a recipe for success and made the event a hit with local skaters, Passion Board Shop Owner Chris Johnson said. The Eau Claire Skaters Association’s event raised $500 for the proposed skatepark in Boyd Park.
Although the money raised is nowhere near the estimated $90,000 needed for the Boyd Park project, Johnson said the event shows they are making the effort needed to prove to the city they are dedicated to working with them to get a second skatepark.
“As we continue to set up fundraising events for a new skatepark we put a little more pressure on the city,” Johnson said. “This pressure advocates skating in the city and more of an effort from the city to help fund a new park.”
The District Company’s owner, Tim Sexton, said this fundraiser goes beyond the money raised for the project.
“One thing I’ve noticed is that the skaters here are really trying to build up a community,” Sexton said. “They enjoy bringing the people together, and the building of a new park allows that.”
Along with the games and entertainment provided by the District Company at Saturday’s event, Johnson provided skate prizes from his shop to raffle off, including shirts and skateboard decks.
Johnson said although the recent fundraiser was helpful, the ECSA has been holding events for awhile now and will continue through the summer by holding skating contests, and even local shows with bands, giving them a percentage of the cover charges from the night.
ECSA founder Gabe Brummet said a bigger goal for the group is to plan the new park, which would be a 5,000 square foot outdoor venue and continue to get the community interested in the project.
The group has continued to grow the skate community locally and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon, Brummet said.
“Skateboarding is an amazing activity, call it a sport or even an art if you want,” Brummet said. “And we plan on making Eau Claire a skate friendly mecca in western Wisconsin.”