Hamburg – New York State Assemblymember Jonathan D. Rivera announced, as part of the NYS Assembly’s State and Municipal (SAM) grant allocations, that the Hamburg Skatepark Project will receive $50,000 in grant funding.

The concept for a new 10,000-square-foot, concrete skatepark began when Hamburg residents Tim and Charity Carrig bought their son a skateboard and sought the nearest appropriate space in which to teach him how to use it. They quickly realized that all of the town’s current options for skateboarders are inadequate.

The Carrigs learned of The Skatepark Project’s “Built to Play” program in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, which builds interactive public play spaces for kids as well as skate parks in Western New York and Southeast Michigan.

The Skatepark Project, formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation, is a national nonprofit organization that promotes healthy, active lifestyles for children. The organization provides technical assistance and funds to build high-quality skateparks in low-income areas. Since 2002, it has helped build more than 500 skate parks in all 50 states.

The Carrigs submitted their grant application for a Hamburg skatepark in the summer of 2020 for a brand-new park that would be located within Electric Park off of Sowles Road. Their application was approved for a matching grant of up to $250,000. The Hamburg Skatepark Project now has until April 30 to match that number though fundraising.

With the support of SAM grant funding through the NYS Assembly, total fundraising efforts now stand at roughly $190,000. The project is now well on its way toward meeting its goal, before involving the Hamburg community on what the new park might look like and what amenities it will include.

Assemblymember Rivera said, “The Town of Hamburg and its residents have outgrown the current amenities afforded to its skateboarding and rollerblading community. This grant funding will help in the creation of a brand-new park in which new generations of Hamburg residents will enjoy recreational opportunities in a safe, appropriate, and designated space.”

State Senator Sean Ryan said, “Recreational activities play a key role in the healthy development of our children and young adults, and skateboarding is a great way for kids to stay active. Since founding the Hamburg Skatepark Project, the Carrigs have worked hard to guarantee that kids in Hamburg will have a safe place to skate for years to come. With the backing of the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation and this $50,000 grant secured by Assemblymember Rivera, their hard work is well on its way to paying off for the Hamburg community.”

Hamburg Town Supervisor Randy Hoak said, “When projects are built with collaboration and fueled by civic engagement, everybody wins.Hamburg will benefit from this project.Assembly Member Rivera's support brings this fundraising effort much closer to the finish line. The Carrig family and their dedicated team of friends and associates brought their vision and commitment to this project, a great example of what can happen when hard working people put their community first. Hamburg is grateful for everyone who has worked so hard on this.”

Tim Carrig, founder of the Hamburg Skatepark Project said, “We are completely blown away by the support we've received from our community. Thank you to Assemblyman Jon Rivera for seeing the value in giving kids and adults a safe place to play.”

Jim Boyle, VP of Programs for The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation said, “It’s incredible to see the community of Hamburg – from the Carrig family to Assemblymember Rivera – rally together and work collaboratively to make this new skatepark a reality. The mental and physical benefits of play for youth are clear and more important than ever today. We’re proud to help accelerate these projects across the region through our Built to Play match and partnership with the experts at The Skatepark Project.”

Trevor Staples, Built to Play Manager for The Skatepark Project said, “For the past three years, community advocates and volunteers from the Town of Hamburg have been working to get a permanent skatepark built to help get young people more active. The Hamburg Skatepark Project has nurtured local, regional, and state relationships to make sure that this recreational facility is a reflection of the communities it will serve. We at The Skatepark Project and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation are proud to be partners in this endeavor and are excited to come skate once it is finished!”