Hi all,

We've set up an event for the ENTIRE Washtenaw County Community. Please come and
tell us what you want the Ann Arbor Skatepark to be!

_____________

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee will host Wally Hollyday Design at a
public skatepark design input meeting on October 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the Slauson
Middle School cafeteria., 1019 W. Washington. There is no charge for attendance.

The meeting will be a workshop format, with hands-on participation by local
skaters, interested community members and city staff. Wally Hollyday will
present a visual representation that includes images and illustrations of skate
parks he has created.

Participants will work in small groups to critique the designs and communicate
directly with Hollyday, who will circulate throughout the workshop. Hollyday
will then develop unique and original design options based on input from the
workshops from which the actual skate park design will be chosen.

Before the workshop, at 1:30 p.m., community members can tour the location of
the future skatepark site at the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park, at
the corner of Maple and Dexter Roads.

About the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee:

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee is a coalition of parents, skaters,
teachers, business and community leaders, dedicated to the development of a
public skatepark in Ann Arbor. Their mission is to build a free, public,
concrete skatepark as a permanent resource for residents in the Ann Arbor area.
The skatepark will be designed and built by an experienced skatepark contractor,
and include local skaters in the design process.

Show your support for public skateparks by helping out at the best skatepark in
Michigan!

This coming Saturday, September 26, Plus Skateboarding is putting on their Fall
Classic skateboarding contest. This contest will be held at Riley Skatepark in
Farmington Hills and is open to anyone who wants to compete. Registration starts
at 9:00 AM, with the beginner divisions starting at 11:00 AM sharp!

To show our support for public skateparks, the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action
Committee is organizing a group of people to come check out the contest, then
help clean up the park afterward. Please put on your A2 Skatepark t-shirt, and
join us to watch the advanced competition at 6:00 PM, then stay to show your
support by lending a hand getting the Riley Skatepark looking top-notch. We'll
be bringing rakes and trashbags along to help us get the park into tip-top
shape. Don't have an A2 Skatepark shirt? Well get down to the Vault of Midnight,
Launch Board Shop, or Acme Mercantile and get yourself one!

We are lucky to have so many public skateparks in Michigan. We're even luckier
to have the best public skatepark in Michigan within an hour of Ann Arbor. Soon
we'll have our own great public skatepark, and it's important to show the
general public that we intend to care for our park as if we own it. Why? Because
we do!

Please come out to Riley Skatepark on Saturday, September 26 to show your
support of public skateparks (and have fun!). For more information, please
contact trevor@...

Hi Ann Arbor Skatepark Supporters!

You're invited to an exciting FREE "field trip" that the Ann Arbor Skatepark
Action Committee has planned for October 3rd. We'll be taking a group trip to
the Riley Skatepark in Farmington Hills. We'd love to have you come along to see
what a world-class skatepark looks like, talk to people from the Farmington
Hills community and Government about what it's meant to their City, and skate
with us (if that's something you're interested in). If you'd like to join us,
let us know ASAP. The seats on the bus will fill up fast! Here are the details:

Who's invited?
Ann Arbor City Council members, PAC commissioners, members of other community
groups who have an interest in the skatepark, skaters, families and any other
community members.

What is this?
It's a trip to the Riley Skatepark in Farmington Hills. The skatepark opened
this past spring, and it's a great example of a public/private partnership, not
to mention the best skatepark in Michigan. Many of us skaters will be bringing
our equipment, as we plan to skate while we're there to show what we do when we
visit other cities like Farmington Hills.

When will it happen?
Saturday, October 3, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

Where will it happen?
We'll meet at Veterans Memorial Park in Ann Arbor at 1:00 PM. We'll meet in the
parking lot on the West side of the park. This will give everyone a chance to
walk the future Ann Arbor Skatepark location before seeing first-hand an example
of a real skatepark. After that we'll head out to Farmington Hills. The trip
takes about 30-40 minutes. We'll return to Ann Arbor by 4:00 PM.

Why are we doing this?
We've found that most people in Ann Arbor are in favor of the Ann Arbor
Skatepark, but many people haven't seen the kind of skatepark that we'll be
building. This trip will give people a chance to see the scope of the project,
and why we're so excited about it.

How are we going to get there?
BTB has offered us a discount on their BTB Party Bus (
http://www.btbpartybus.com/ ). This bus is usually used around town as a form of
green alternative transportation. It's powered by fryer grease! Although we
won't be partying on the bus, we'll be talking skateparks along the way, which
to us is like a party! ;-)

We only have about a dozen seats on the bus. Once those seats fills up, we hope
that those folks who want to come along with us will caravan in cars and trucks
behind the BTB bus.

We'd love to have you join us at the Riley Skatepark. Please respond to
trevor@... ASAP, and let us know if you'd like to join the fun. Or,
simply show up the day of the event. See you there!

-Trevor Staples

Volunteers Needed for the Art Fair!

The Art Fair booth is a crucial fundraising opportunity for the Skatepark, and
we need your help to man (or woman) it!

The booth is in the non-profit area of the Ann Arbor Art Fair(in front of Seva).
We'll be open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 9pm on Wednesday-Friday and
10am to 6pm on Saturday.

Click on this link to sign up for as many or as few hours as you can do:
http://doodle.com/s8xgrca5r4um5px3

Sign up solo (we'll throw someone else in there with you), with a friend,
relative, significant other, colleague, acquaintance... Or how about a first
date? Running the Skatepark booth together would be both fun and romantic. Just
a thought.

Thanks again and again for all of your hard work and support!

Hi Mike,

Thanks so much for your input on our efforts to get a skatepark built in Ann
Arbor. As we continue our dialogue with the community, it's refreshing to know
that there are passionate skaters and supporters who care about skateboarding
now, and for the future. People like you are the ones who made this kernel of an
idea explode into a reality.

You have some valid points regarding the positive attributes of an indoor skate
facility. However, in the past two years of working with the City of Ann Arbor
Parks Commission, City Council, skaters of all ages, business owners, parents,
skatepark builders, professional skateboarders, and non-skating citizens, we've
found that an outdoor, concrete, free-to-use skatepark is the way to go. Mostly,
what it all comes down to is money, but there are other factors to consider as
well.

Your first point, about the skatepark only being useful in the summer months, is
an interesting one. I suppose if you want to simply wear a t-shirt and shorts
when skating, then you may be right. But, living in Michigan, we all know we
can't even count on summer months being warm enough for t-shirts and shorts
(take last week for example). You're right, you can't usually skate outdoors in
Michigan in January. But, outdoor skateparks in Michigan are skateable nearly
3/4 of the year. Sure, it can be cool skating outside in the early spring or
late fall, but so can running, hiking, playing soccer/tennis/softball or riding
bikes. Living in a cool climate means dressing for the weather. We skate 'til
the snow falls, and get out there as soon as it melts. Indoor facilities are
nice, but not necessary to enjoy the sport. Having said that, there are
skateparks that have "indoor" aspects to them. See this one for an example:
http://concretedisciples.com/skateparksdb/skateparks_display.php?id=1300
However, building an indoor section of the skatepark will significantly add to
the costs of construction.

Your arguments for wood materials vs. concrete seem to be personal, rather than
practical. The main thing a skater wants in a skatepark is skateability.
Concrete is fast, smooth, and versatile. When built by a reputable, experienced
skatepark builder, a concrete skatepark will have trick-to-trick/turn-to-turn
lines that are easy to keep speed in, and allow the skater to link up
tricks/maneuvers in many different ways. I'm not sure what tricks can only be
done on wood, and not on concrete. Could you post some videos or pictures? To
most skaters, a stair set is a stair set, whether it is concrete or wood. But,
when you get to talking about ledges, ramps, bowls and banks, concrete is going
to offer a much smoother, durable riding surface. Wood is slicker, for sure,
allowing one to slide wheels more easily, but I've known skaters who have been
doing slides on concrete (even rough, street concrete) for decades. We're
looking to build a world-class facility that will have beginner, intermediate,
and expert areas. If a skater feels that one part of the skatepark is too
challenging, they'll be able to go over to another part of the park that will be
right for them to learn on. This is not unlike a runner who's not quite ready
for a marathon. They may try a 10k or 5k race first as a beginner.

The surface of a good concrete skatepark is not rough to the touch. I encourage
you to head out to Riley Skatepark in Farmington Hills and run your hand along
any of the surfaces. You'll find that they're almost as smooth as glass. If
you're skating a skatepark that is constantly tearing up your skin, here are
some things that may be factors: 1. The skatepark was not built by an
experienced, quality skatepark builder (go to the Niles, MI skatepark for an
example of a good skatepark with a poor surface). 2. You're not wearing your
safety equipment (I don't have an argument for making a safer skatepark for
those who do not want to wear safety equipment). 3. You're skating an area that
is above your skating ability (I recently skated Bob Burnquist's Mega Ramp. I
chose to do a kickturn on the 30' tall quarter pipe. I knew that hitting the
jump was not in my better interest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_1Y8UoLIu4 ).

Your point regarding upkeep and maintenance is one we've been discussing since
the idea of an Ann Arbor Skatepark came about. As you've mentioned, we would not
want to have a wooden skatepark that is run-down, with splintered surfaces. My
friends and I have been building wooden ramps for years. We still have a wooden
half-pipe. With daily usage, the surfaces need to be replaced quite often. A
sheet of plywood or Skatelite is going to cost from $30 to $100. Multiply that
by how many sheets needed and how many times a year they need to be replaced,
and you're looking at massive annual maintenance costs (on our 24' wide, 6' tall
halfpipe, roughly 700 square feet of surface, it costs about $500 to replace the
surface. For a 30,000 square foot park it would run into the tens of thousands).
Also, decks, lips, corners and edges of ramps need to be kept up. Daily
inspections of the surfaces, including looking for screws that have popped up,
require a paid employee to be on hand, adding to the annual costs. Sure, a
wooden skatepark is cheaper up front, but over the decades that we hope to use
this public skatepark, the maintenance costs would be phenomenal. A concrete
park, on the other hand, will be a larger price up front, but the annual
maintenance costs will be around $5,000.

How long will an outdoor, concrete skatepark last in Michigan? Well, it's hard
to tell, as most Michigan concrete skateparks have not been around for more than
a decade. Let's take a look at one that's in our climate, but not in Michigan.
Sarnia, Ontario has had a skatepark in one of it's public parks for nearly 30
years. I stopped by a few years ago to check it out. It's still there, in great
shape. Sure, it's not the kind of facility we're looking to build, but just like
any other concrete structure, if it's built right, it's going to last. Many
skaters still make a point of visiting this classic skatepark every once in a
while: http://staplesworks.com/skaterpics/sarnia/

The final, and probably most important reason for having an outdoor, public,
FREE skatepark is to make it accessible to everyone. Skateboarding is a very
inexpensive sport to get started in. All you need is a board, wheels and trucks.
Most anyone can afford to participate in this healthy, active pastime. If one
has to pay to skate every time, the sport suddenly becomes restrictive and
exclusive. Using a couple great indoor, pay skateparks as examples, you can see
that skating on a regular basis could break most budgets. Modern Skatepark in
Royal Oak has a top-notch facility. They have a bowl, ramps and street area. We
go there once or twice a year: in the winter when it's too snowy to skate
outside. The cost to skate? $15 for a three-hour session. The K-Zoo Skate Zoo is
another great indoor pay park. There it costs $10 to skate. This is doable for
someone who lives nearby and has a nice, steady income. But, if you consider the
kid (or adult) who doesn't have $50 a week to spend on skating, you understand
how we start to exclude people from the sport. My buddies and I have decent
jobs, and transportation. We could probably afford to go to pay skateparks on a
regular basis, if we wanted to budget for that. But we, like many other
community members we talk to, believe that skateboarding should be no different
than playing basketball, tennis or riding bikes; if you want to do it, you
simply go to the park and play.

Many communities across Michigan have decided that a free, public, concrete
skatepark is the way to go. Here's a list of some of them:

Bay City
Belleville
East Lansing
Farmington Hills
Grand Haven
Howell
Huntington Woods
Ludington
Mason
Midland
Niles
Portage
Traverse City
Westland

Some of these parks are not the perfect, all-around parks that are ideal, but
the fact is that these cities have stepped up to make sure that their citizens
have options when it comes to outdoor activities.

So, thanks again for your email, Mike. And thanks for offering to sign the
online petition, but we're past the petition point now. What we need from people
is help in fundraising. Every dollar counts, as we work to raise nearly
$1,000,000 to build our skatepark.

Oh, and before you write-off all free, public, concrete skateparks, PLEASE go
skate Riley Skatepark in Farmington Hills. It's the best skatepark in Michigan,
and very close to you as well.

Sincerely,

Trevor Staples



Trevor Staples
Chair, The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee
P.O. Box 3001
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106
734-223-9837


Dream it. Build it. Skate it.
http://www.a2skatepark.org





--- In a2skatepark@yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <epoxamd2600@...> wrote:
>
> Hi I'm Mike, I'm a new comer to this group. At age 26 I've been skateboarding
for about 14 years now and live in Plymouth. So when I hear of any new skate
park going up I think that's awesome. However, one must take into consideration
that if a skate park is to be built out doors in Michigan, it is probably only
useful for about 3 or 4 months out of the entire year and only when it's not
raining, too hot, or too cold. (Considering about May through the end of August)
>
> Surely right now its summer and Riley skate park just opened but if we look at
the surrounding cities in this area, there are a few skate parks but almost none
of them are indoor skate parks. Almost all of the indoor skate spots around this
area have closed down or moved away. With a good indoor skate park one can
skateboard all year long any day of the week and that wouldn't depend on the
weather.
>
> Also skateboard ramps made from concrete have more disadvantages then other
types like wood, skatelite, metal and others. Many people may not realize this
but when you fall on to a concrete ramp you actually hit the surface harder then
you would a wood ramp. This is because when you fall on a wood ramp, that ramp
will actually absorb some of the impact.
> Now I usually wear all my pads, but in skateboarding one can never be totally
exempt from injury. If you fall on concrete and your skin hits the surface your
skin is likely to be removed and you'll be bleeding. If you fall on a wood ramp
you can get your skin removed but you're more likely to only have you're skin
burned and that is better because you may not be bleeding like you would had it
been concrete you fell on. Of course this also depends on the type of wood and
how well it was taken care of. Yes it's true you can get splinters on old wood
ramps after they've been left out in the rain, but who would neglect their ramps
to where they have such poor shape?
>
> (There are also some tricks and landing of tricks that can be done on
non-concrete ramps like wood that pretty much couldn't be done on concrete
because concrete does not allow any minor bit of slipping or sliding wheels
sideways. But I'm sure some people may debit that point)
>
> Another potential problem with concrete poured here in Michigan is that it is
susceptible to cracking and heaving during the freeze-and-thaw cycles. What
happens when you have a skate park with a concrete slab that doesn't fully
settle back down after a thaw cycle? You have two concrete surfaces at different
levels and an accident waiting to happen!
>
> To tell the truth I'd rather pay a few bucks to get into a skate park then go
to a free skate park that has never had any maintenance since it first open.
Most free skate parks only put money into the park once ever, and then it just
deteriorates from there on.
> (These last 2 things I mentioned is exactly what has happened at Belleville's
skate park. Which is currently one of the worst parks in my opinion)
>
> I want to sign the petition for a new skate park. Ann Arbor is a great place.
But I'd like to have some place to skate in the winter! So I can't say that I
fully support 100% a free concrete skate park. What can we do here? Could part
of it be Indoor?
>

Hi I'm Mike, I'm a new comer to this group. At age 26 I've been skateboarding
for about 14 years now and live in Plymouth. So when I hear of any new skate
park going up I think that's awesome. However, one must take into consideration
that if a skate park is to be built out doors in Michigan, it is probably only
useful for about 3 or 4 months out of the entire year and only when it's not
raining, too hot, or too cold. (Considering about May through the end of August)

Surely right now its summer and Riley skate park just opened but if we look at
the surrounding cities in this area, there are a few skate parks but almost none
of them are indoor skate parks. Almost all of the indoor skate spots around this
area have closed down or moved away. With a good indoor skate park one can
skateboard all year long any day of the week and that wouldn't depend on the
weather.

Also skateboard ramps made from concrete have more disadvantages then other
types like wood, skatelite, metal and others. Many people may not realize this
but when you fall on to a concrete ramp you actually hit the surface harder then
you would a wood ramp. This is because when you fall on a wood ramp, that ramp
will actually absorb some of the impact.
Now I usually wear all my pads, but in skateboarding one can never be totally
exempt from injury. If you fall on concrete and your skin hits the surface your
skin is likely to be removed and you'll be bleeding. If you fall on a wood ramp
you can get your skin removed but you're more likely to only have you're skin
burned and that is better because you may not be bleeding like you would had it
been concrete you fell on. Of course this also depends on the type of wood and
how well it was taken care of. Yes it's true you can get splinters on old wood
ramps after they've been left out in the rain, but who would neglect their ramps
to where they have such poor shape?

(There are also some tricks and landing of tricks that can be done on
non-concrete ramps like wood that pretty much couldn't be done on concrete
because concrete does not allow any minor bit of slipping or sliding wheels
sideways. But I'm sure some people may debit that point)

Another potential problem with concrete poured here in Michigan is that it is
susceptible to cracking and heaving during the freeze-and-thaw cycles. What
happens when you have a skate park with a concrete slab that doesn't fully
settle back down after a thaw cycle? You have two concrete surfaces at different
levels and an accident waiting to happen!

To tell the truth I'd rather pay a few bucks to get into a skate park then go to
a free skate park that has never had any maintenance since it first open. Most
free skate parks only put money into the park once ever, and then it just
deteriorates from there on.
(These last 2 things I mentioned is exactly what has happened at Belleville's
skate park. Which is currently one of the worst parks in my opinion)

I want to sign the petition for a new skate park. Ann Arbor is a great place.
But I'd like to have some place to skate in the winter! So I can't say that I
fully support 100% a free concrete skate park. What can we do here? Could part
of it be Indoor?

For those of you who attended the awesomely successful art show at the Vault of
Midnight, and for those who may have missed it, the 49 skateboard decks will be
moving to the Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty, where they will be on
display for two weeks.

The show will kick-off with a reception on Friday, June 19, from 6-8 p.m. Light
refreshments will be served.

Members of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee will be on hand at the
reception to answer questions and help educate the community about the campaign
to build a public skatepark in Ann Arbor.

The auction featured 49 original pieces of art, all on skateboard decks, and
included a live portion where, in a dramatic bidding war, a deck designed by New
York artist Tristan Eaton went for $2,000.

So come out, eat some food, mill about, and show your continued support for the
Ann Arbor Skatepark!

Just in case 50 skateboards designed by 50 local and national artists isn't
enough to get you down to the Vault this Friday, check THIS out
http://yerboy.com/images/signed_deck1.jpg . Our old buddy Andy Mac hooked us up
and got us this Tony Hawk deck signed by the man himself, along with 24 other
pro skaters. The signing was at the Clash at Clairmont, 2009.

We'll be auctioning this baby at a future fundraising event, but it'll be on
display for Friday's skate-art show. Come check it out!

Here are the signatures on the deck:

Lyndsey Adams
Jake Brown
Adrian Demain
Pat Duffy
Jason Ellis
Pierre Luc Gagnon
Rune Glifberg
Dave Hacket
Buster Halterman
Tony Hawk
Neil Hendricks
Darin Jenkins
Lester Kasai
Bucky Lasek
Holly Lyons
Andy Macdonald
Danny Mayer
Mike McGill
Zack Miller
Duane Peters
Austin Pointer
Jean Postec
Elliot Sloane
Josh Stafford
Steve Steadham

Thanks, dude! How can I get them to you?

Have you seen Farmington Hills? Holy sh*t!

Trevor Staples

734-223-9837

Sent from my iDistraction

On May 8, 2009, at 11:24 AM, Todd Harder <nativeskates@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hey if you guys have anything printed up on this, I will be going to Danforth's Bowl contest tomorrow at Modern in royal Oak and I can hand stuff out about it!

Let me know!
"let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children" - Chief Sitting Bull

Todd L. Harder
Native Skates
120 E. Maumee St.
Adrian, MI 49221
www.nativeskates.com
Myspace.com /75005914
517-605-9319

---

To: a2skatepark@yahoogroups.com
From: trevor@yerboy.com
Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 00:00:36 +0000
Subject: [a2skatepark] Skatepark Benefit Art Show May 15!

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee (AASAC) and Vault of Midnight are proud to host the 2009 Ann Arbor Skatepark Art Show on May 15 from 7:00-10:00 pm.

For this free, public event, fifty artists will be custom designing and painting skate decks to be judged by a panel of judges. Artists include Jim Mahfood, Triston Eaton, BLOKT, AZK One, Corryn Jackson, Jeremy Bastian, Jay Brant and many more! The winners will be selected from within youth and adult categories and the winning decks will be placed up for silent auction. Runner's up will also be available for sale. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the AASAC.

Free food will be provided by Trader Joes and live music will be played throughout the evening by Mogi Grumbles, Charles Trees, and DJ Ornate.

All of the decks will be displayed at Vault of Midnight for two weeks before touring the city as a traveling exhibit. The Art Show will be part of a weekend of free events aimed at raising awareness about the AASAC and the construction of a free, public skatepark in Ann Arbor for the use of its residents.

For more information about this event, contact Curtis Sullivan, owner of Vault of Midnight at 734-998-1413

---

Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out.

Hey if you guys have anything printed up on this, I will be going to Danforth's Bowl contest tomorrow at Modern in royal Oak and I can hand stuff out about it!

Let me know!
"let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children" - Chief Sitting Bull

Todd L. Harder
Native Skates
120 E. Maumee St.
Adrian, MI 49221
www.nativeskates.com
Myspace.com /75005914
517-605-9319

---

To: a2skatepark@yahoogroups.com
From: trevor@yerboy.com
Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 00:00:36 +0000
Subject: [a2skatepark] Skatepark Benefit Art Show May 15!

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee (AASAC) and Vault of Midnight are proud to host the 2009 Ann Arbor Skatepark Art Show on May 15 from 7:00-10:00 pm.

For this free, public event, fifty artists will be custom designing and painting skate decks to be judged by a panel of judges. Artists include Jim Mahfood, Triston Eaton, BLOKT, AZK One, Corryn Jackson, Jeremy Bastian, Jay Brant and many more! The winners will be selected from within youth and adult categories and the winning decks will be placed up for silent auction. Runner's up will also be available for sale. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the AASAC.

Free food will be provided by Trader Joes and live music will be played throughout the evening by Mogi Grumbles, Charles Trees, and DJ Ornate.

All of the decks will be displayed at Vault of Midnight for two weeks before touring the city as a traveling exhibit. The Art Show will be part of a weekend of free events aimed at raising awareness about the AASAC and the construction of a free, public skatepark in Ann Arbor for the use of its residents.

For more information about this event, contact Curtis Sullivan, owner of Vault of Midnight at 734-998-1413

---

Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out.

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee (AASAC) and Vault of Midnight are proud
to host the 2009 Ann Arbor Skatepark Art Show on May 15 from 7:00-10:00 pm.

For this free, public event, fifty artists will be custom designing and painting
skate decks to be judged by a panel of judges.  Artists include Jim Mahfood,
Triston Eaton, BLOKT, AZK One, Corryn Jackson, Jeremy Bastian, Jay Brant and
many more! The winners will be selected from within youth and adult categories
and the winning decks will be placed up for silent auction. Runner's up will
also be available for sale. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the AASAC.

Free food will be provided by Trader Joes and live music will be played
throughout the evening by Mogi Grumbles, Charles Trees, and DJ Ornate.

All of the decks will be displayed at Vault of Midnight for two weeks before
touring the city as a traveling exhibit. The Art Show will be part of a weekend
of free events aimed at raising awareness about the AASAC and the construction
of a free, public skatepark in Ann Arbor for the use of its residents.

For more information about this event, contact Curtis Sullivan, owner of Vault
of Midnight at 734-998-1413

Need something to do this weekend? Got extra Peeps lying around? Just a reminder
that our Peeps contest deadline is Monday! Follow the link below for the
details:

http://www.a2skatepark.org/articles/attention-all-a2-skatepark-peeps

Here's a fun way to get involved with, and support the Ann Arbor Skatepark. The
Ann Arbor News is having a Peeps Contest! They are encouraging folks to create
dioramas using Peeps. See the News' announcement here:

http://tinyurl.com/dy5dzo

We thought we'd sweeten the deal. If you enter a diorama in the Ann Arbor News'
contest that has an Ann Arbor Skatepark theme, we'll put your name in a drawing
for an Ann Arbor Skatepark prize pack. The prize pack will have a skatepark
shirt, stickers, and other goodies, including items from Acme Mercantile and the
Vault of Midnight.

Once you've entered the Ann Arbor News' contest, send us a picture of your
diorama along with your name, age, shirt size and contact information. Entries
must be received by Monday, April 13. Once the entries are received, we'll put
the names in a hat and draw a winner at random. After we have a winner, we'll
post pics of ALL entries on a2skatepark.org!

Good luck, and get Peepin'!

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee is starting its big-time
fundraising with the formation of two funds at The Ann Arbor Area
Community Foundation. One of the funds will support the design and
construction of the skatepark, the other is an endowment to help the
City pay for maintenance, improvements and upgrades. Ten percent of
each gift to the Ann Arbor Skatepark goes to the endowment fund.

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund supports the construction of a free
public skatepark where Ann Arbor's skaters can safely and responsibly
practice their sport. Donors to the Fund become partners in the Ann
Arbor Skatepark Action Committee's efforts to promote healthy exercise
and safe spaces for youth, while also involving young people in their
community. Your commitment to the Fund thus enhances Ann Arbor's
reputation as one of the nation's safest, healthiest and most
family-friendly places to live.

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Endowment Fund will support the ongoing
maintenance of the Skatepark. Supporters of the Fund ensure that this
important addition to the community's outstanding system of parks and
recreational facilities remains safe and attractive for generations of
Ann Arborites to come.

Everyone who makes a commitment to the fund by February 28, 2009 will
be honored as an establishing donor.

To support the Ann Arbor Skatepark, email fundraising chair Jim
Reische at jreische@....

For more information, contact Trevor Staples at (734) 223-9837 and
visit a2skatepark.org

Monday night, December 1st, the Ann Arbor City Council will be voting
on a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between the City and the Ann Arbor
Skatepark Action Committee (AASAC). The MOI lays out the
responsibilities of the parties involved, and officially gives the
green light for the project to start. It also officially names the
location for the skatepark (Veteran's Memorial Park).

We have seen and heard tremendous support from the citizens of Ann
Arbor and the surrounding communites over the past year and a half,
and need to you to come out and show that support at this meeting.
Please come and show the Ann Arbor City Council members that this
project is important.

Once City Council approves the MOI, we can begin our big-time
fundraising, and get this thing going. We appreciate your continued
support!

We (and the city council members) hope to see you there!

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting
Monday, December 1, 7:00 PM
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

-Trevor

Last Thursday, we held our first annual holiday party, and it was a
great success. We had over 40 people come out and enjoy the piano
playing of Brian DiBlassio, and food and beverages from Arbor Brewing
Company. The best part of the night, though, was simply hanging out
and talking to other people from our community who support the idea of
a free, public skatepark in Ann Arbor.

During the party we took the time to thank those supporters who have
made the biggest difference to our cause. These businesses and
individuals have gone above and beyond to help insure that Ann Arbor
gets the world-class skatepark it deserves. Here's a list of the
people we thanked at the party:

Acme Mercantile
Ann Arbor Parks Advisory Commission of 2008
"Homeless" Dave Askins
The Blind Pig
Wes Dean
Jeff Dehring
Jennie Hale
Diandre Jackson
Stephen Kunselman
Launch Board Shop
Kevin McDonald
Redbelly Board Shop
Sun & Snow
Vault of Midnight
Sam Works
Lauren Works
Zattoo

We are overwhelmed by the support we've gotten from the citizens of
Ann Arbor, and the surrounding communities. We couldn't do this
without your support, interest and assistance. As we move into the
fundraising stage, we look forward to making the next year even more
successful than the last.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

-Trevor

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee has been working with the
City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services Unit over the past few
months to finalize the agreement between the City and the skatepark
group. This agreement will be brought before the Park Advisory
Commission (PAC) this Tuesday, November 18. After its passage at PAC,
the agreement will move to the City Council on December 1 for final
approval. Once the agreement is approved by City Council, the big push
starts to fund, design and build the best skatepark in the midwest,
and maybe the country.

We couldn't have done what we've done over the past year without the
support of people from the youngest skater to the most senior
grandparents. This is truly a community effort, and we thank you.

Your help will be needed more than ever in the coming year as we begin
our big-time fundraising. Right now you can help by tuning in to Ann
Arbor's CTN tomorrow night and watching the PAC approve the agreement.

We're urging all supporters of the Ann Arbor Skatepark to attend the
City Council meeting on December 1st, 2008. This meeting will be at
7:00 PM in Ann Arbor's City Hall. Although we have heard great support
from City Council, the more community members we have out supporting
this project, the more likely it is to pass. Please join us for this
next big step in the process.

Thanks for all you do!

Trevor Staples
Chair, The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee

Thanks to all of the skaters and supporters who came out to our skate
jams this summer! These events really showed the need for a permanent
skate facility in Ann Arbor. Special thanks to Sun & Snow Sports (
http://www.sunandsnow.com/ ) and Launch Board Shop (
www.myspace.com/launchboardshop ) for offering up financial support to
help us hold these special events.

The Ann Arbor News has posted a gallery of pictures from the August 31
skate jam. You can view them at the following link:
http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/features/index.ssf/2008/09/090708_faces_in_the\
_crowd.html

Also, the new online publication The Ann Arbor Chronicle has reported
on the September 20 skate jam. Check it out!
http://annarborchronicle.com/2008/09/22/skatejam-at-westgate/

-Trevor

We'll have pizza and pop, as well as a FREE drawing for a deck from
Launch. Meet us at Launch Board Shop, 1202 S. University in Ann Arbor.


The Ann Arbor Skatepark Street Team is a group of young volunteers who
are passionate about getting a world-class skatepark built in Ann
Arbor. Street Team members work directly with Ann Arbor Skatepark
Steering Committee members, and learn the ins and outs of The Ann
Arbor Skatepark Action Committee. We hope to see some of our Street
Teamers move up in the ranks and join the Steering Committee when they
are ready.

What do street team members do?

Attend and assist with Ann Arbor Skatepark events including steeet
team meetings, skate jams and all-ages concerts

Circulate flyers, stickers, info cards and other promotional materials
for Ann Arbor Skatepark events

Promote the skatepark face-to-face, and on websites, online forums and
bulletin boards

Explain to the public the need for a free, legal, public place to
skateboard and inline skate

Bring friends to Skatepark events

Call and/or write City and County officials, letting them know the
importance of building a skatepark in Ann Arbor

Bring fresh ideas into the organization



What are the benefits of being an Ann Arbor Skatepark Street Team member?

Street Team members get a free, special edition A2skatepark t-shirt.

Street Team members get their own a2skatepark email address:
yourname@...

Street Team members get skatepark stickers… whenever they want!

Street Team members get a chance at winning a Launch shop deck at each
Street Team event.

Street Team members get on the guest list to all-ages Skatepark concerts.

Street Team members work closely with Steering Committee members, and
can eventually become members themselves.



If you would like to join the Ann Arbor Skatepark Street Team, contact
Crystle Partington at crystle@..., or sign up at one of
our events.

Today's Ann Arbor News features a full page of photos from the August
Skate Jam! Thanks go to News photographer Leisa Thompson, who took
terrific shots of the nearly 90 skaters who turned out for the event.

Make sure to join us for our next Jam on September 20 at Westgate,
co-sponsored by Sun & Snow and Launch Board Shop. Guest pros Bill
Danforth and Garold Vallie will be there, helping us make this the
biggest and best Jam of the season. See you there!

Hi folks,

Just one last reminder that August's skate jam is today. Hope to see
you there!

________

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee, Sun & Snow Sports, and
Launch Board shop will be holding a skate jam at Sun & Snow, 2471 W.
Stadium Blvd in the Westgate Shopping Center on Sunday, Aug 31st from
1:00-4:00 PM. Included in the event will be
a skate jam with ramps and rails, product giveaways, DJs spinning
tunes, and refreshments.

All skill levels from beginning skaters to the most advanced are
encouraged to attend, as well as non skaters and community members who
just want to check out the action!
Come out to have fun and find out why a safe, free, permanent concrete
skatepark is a good idea for the entire Ann Arbor community.

The event is free. participants will be required to wear a helmet and
sign a liability waiver.

The mission of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee is to build a
free, public, concrete skatepark as a permanent resource for residents
in the Ann Arbor area. The skatepark will be designed and built by an
experienced skatepark contractor, and include local skaters in the
design process.

For more information visit a2skatepark.org or contact Trevor Staples
at 734-223-9837

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee, Sun & Snow Sports, and
Launch Board shop will be holding a skate jam at Sun & Snow, 2471 W.
Stadium Blvd in the Westgate Shopping Center on Sunday, Aug 31st from
1:00-4:00 PM. Included in the event will be
a skate jam with ramps and rails, product giveaways, DJs spinning
tunes, and refreshments.

All skill levels from beginning skaters to the most advanced are
encouraged to attend, as well as non skaters and community members who
just want to check out the action!
Come out to have fun and find out why a safe, free, permanent concrete
skatepark is a good idea for the entire Ann Arbor community.

The event is free. participants will be required to wear a helmet and
sign a liability waiver.

The mission of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee is to build a
free, public, concrete skatepark as a permanent resource for residents
in the Ann Arbor area. The skatepark will be designed and built by an
experienced skatepark contractor, and include local skaters in the
design process.

For more information visit a2skatepark.org or contact Trevor Staples
at 734-223-9837

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee now has an online store where
you can buy skatepark shirts and stickers. If you live in town, you
can still get these items at Launch Board Shop, Vault of Midnight and
Acme Mercantile. For those of you who don't live in the area (or those
who can't find a parking spot downtown), this new online store should
be helpful.

If you do visit the online store and have comments about it, please
let us know. We want to make online ordering as simple and
straightforward as possible. You can send email questions or comments
about the store to sales@....

Alternatively, you can come check out our shirt selection at the skate
jam coming up this Sunday in front of Sun & Snow in Ann Arbor.

To get to the store, and see our detailed calendar of upcoming events,
visit www.a2skatepark.org

-Trevor Staples



Trevor Staples
Chair, The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee
P.O. Box 3001
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106
734-223-9837


Dream it. Build it. Skate it.
http://www.a2skatepark.org

Sorry folks, forgot to put the details of time and place!

Saturday, August 16, 8:00 to 10:00 PM
Arbor Brewing Company
114 E. Washington, Ann Arbor

_________________


Come meet some of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee steering
committee members in an informal atmosphere. This month's "mixer" will
be at Arbor Brewing Company.*

This is not an official meeting of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action
Committee. Rather, this is a way for folks to come out and talk about
the Ann Arbor Skatepark (or anything else that comes up) in a more
laid-back setting than the usual meetings.

Come chat us up, and find out more about our efforts to get a free,
public, concrete skatepark built in Ann Arbor!



*Many of our events are for folks of all ages (skate jams, all-ages
concerts, public meetings). These social "mixers" are intended for
adults over 18.

Come meet some of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee steering
committee members in an informal atmosphere. This month's "mixer" will
be at Arbor Brewing Company.*

This is not an official meeting of the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action
Committee. Rather, this is a way for folks to come out and talk about
the Ann Arbor Skatepark (or anything else that comes up) in a more
laid-back setting than the usual meetings.

Come chat us up, and find out more about our efforts to get a free,
public, concrete skatepark built in Ann Arbor!



*Many of our events are for folks of all ages (skate jams, all-ages
concerts, public meetings). These social "mixers" are intended for
adults over 18.