Local skaters raise funds for skate park renovation
By Stephanie Yost
Idyllwild Community Center President
The Idyllwild skateboard community held a fundraiser from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Idyllwild Skate Park to help raise funds for the facility’s ongoing renovation. It is estimated that more than 300 people attended the event throughout the day.
The Idyllwild Skate Park, the Idyllwild Community Center (ICC) owns and operates, is located on the grounds of Idyllwild Pines on Highway 243.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ICC
The event raised in excess of $2,600, which will go toward ICC’s fundraising goal of $15,000 needed to replace the half-pipe feature removed earlier this year due to safety concerns as well as other needed repairs. This fundraiser donation means the community is more than halfway to this goal.
Primary organizers of the event were Carlos Mercado of Build-A-Board skate shop in Village Lane and local skateboarder Emily Jimenez. Four bands played at various times during the event, including local band Throw the Goat, headed by Brian “Puke” Parnell, who also provided the sound system and tech for the event.
Event sponsors included Cody Hopkins of Baker Street Snow skate shop, Sean Cliver of Strangelove Skateboards and Carlos Mercado, all of whom donated a wide assortment of skateboards, apparel and other skateboard-related items for numerous raffles. Speakeasy Books donated raffle items and Schnalzer Electric donated refreshments as well.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ICC
Many local and off-Hill vendors set up booths at the event that sold a variety of goods, including candles, clothing, jewelry, music, artwork, skate-related goods and more. The organizers also sold food and soft drinks.
“This was truly an amazing event and a great example of what can happen when the community comes together to reach a unified goal,” said Will Steichen, ICC recreation and program director who attended the event along with ICC President Stephanie Yost.
Besides music, the event featured multiple skating contests for various age groups, including an event for Best Trick and the game of S.K.A.T.E. (In S.K.A.T.E., Skaters compete round-by-round to execute a particular trick. If the skater fails at the trick, they are assigned a letter (first “s,” then “k,” etc.). Once they earn the word “skate,” they’re out.
Skaters at all levels and ages skated together throughout the day to an appreciative and enthusiastic crowd of spectators.
The event organizers and ICC express their appreciation to Idyllwild Pines for their patience and support for the event.
Donations for the skate park renovation project can be made through ICC’s website (idyllwildocmmunitycenter.org) or ICC’s GoFundMe Page by searching “Idyllwild Skatepark Repair Fund.”
