Leesburg Today Article

Thanks to the Leesburg Today newspaper for publishing an extensive article regarding our efforts to bring a skate park to Purcellville, Virginia. We appreciate the time and effort that was taken in accurately reporting how hard we've been working at this. You can read the article here: http://www.leesburgtoday.com/articles/2011/04/13/news/towns_and_villages/462skatepark041311.txt

The reporter did a great job researching the facts and speaking with many of the people involved. One minor correction: The estimated cost of the park will likely be much higher than $55,000. Hopefully the paper won't mind that we pasted the article itself below:

Published April 13, 2011

Margaret Morton

Staff Writer

The four-year effort of a group of teens and their parents to create a skate park in Purcellville may finally be experiencing some solid progress.

To date, a major stumbling block to the project has been lack of a location, but that now has changed with the willingness of VDOT to consider a plan to build a skate park on its right of way between Hirst Road and the Rt. 7 Bypass. The three acre-plus parcel along the W&OD Trail earlier had been eyed by county government for the construction of a 250-space park and ride lot, a project opposed by the Town Council because of congestion in the area.

Recent talks have resulted in town support for building the skate park there. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA-10), whom skate park Vice President Dave Levinson approached early this year, has endorsed the project. And VDOT representatives have signaled they are open to the idea.

Levinson had insisted the group identify a location before beginning the fundraising campaign needed to build it. After obtaining 501(c)(3) charitable status from the IRS last fall, Levinson approached Councilman Jim Wiley, who chairs the town's Infrastructure Committee and serves as liaison to the town's Parks and Recreation Committee. Wiley, who has supported the concept from the beginning, suggested the VDOT site as a possibility.

"We looked at it, and it is a fantastic location," Levinson said, noting the presence of the W&OD Trail at the western edge of the wedge-shaped parcel would provide easy access for youth.

After a meeting between VDOT representatives and the committee to discuss the possibility last October, however, VDOT's evaluation concluded the department should not support the idea because the land someday may be needed for transportation improvements.

The group continued to press its case and asked the town for its help. Mayor Bob Lazaro wrote VDOT Northern Virginia District Commissioner Garrett Moore in February asking for a re-consideration of the site for recreational purposes. Lazaro cited the positive benefits of the skate park for youth as opposed to the negative elements to which young people are often exposed.

Lazaro said the group was enlisting the support of local, state and federal elected representatives as well as raising funds to build a temporary skate park, which could be removed if VDOT needs the land for other uses.

Wolf also approached the transportation department, writing in support of the proposal to VDOT Commissioner Gregory A. Whirley Sr. Whirley replied March 8, noting that VDOT's Northern Virginia staff would be working with the town to "see if there is a workable solution to Mr. Levinson's request."

While nothing concrete so far has been agreed to, just the possibility that VDOT might consider some sort of three-way arrangement between VDOT, the town and the skate park group had its supporters encouraged.

Skate park President Dolly Stevens, whose son Robbie Tootle, now 18, has been an enthusiastic member of the skate park group, said the possibility of being able to secure the location is a huge benefit.

"We've desperately been wanting to tell people we had a piece of land. That's when it can become real, not just a theory," she said this week. Crossing that barrier would "allow us to get some big momentum going," she said.

Levinson does not have children involved in the group. "I'm an old-time skater," he said, noting he thought the project would be important for the town. A Purcellville businessman, Levinson drew up a business plan for the skate group and set about securing support from elected leaders. The lobbying paid off and Lazaro and Town Manager Robert W. Lohr looked at the site with Moore last month. Levinson said he understood the agency might be open to considering some sort of term lease arrangement with the town.

Wiley said the location was the "first viable one" that had been looked at. He noted for the arrangement to work certain concerns, including liability, would have to be resolved and the group would have to be prepared to remove the improvement if VDOT ever needed the land in the future.

Once a decision on location is settled, the core group of about a dozen parents will get into fundraising, community awareness, marketing, legal and engineering issues to "help get this off the ground," Levinson said. Having the town support is very important, he said.

"I'm very confident we can raise the money," Levinson said, which depending on the eventual design and funding could range well upwards of $55,000.

"It will happen, there's a lot of interest and support."

To see a video showing the concept and location, as well as to volunteer or donate, go to www.skatenow.org.

"Once we get the green light, we'll get going," Stevens pledged.