Phase one of the skate park renewal completed

By John Gallup
Special to the Turnagain Times

Phase one of four phases of the skate park renewal is completed and ready to ride! Initial reports from the riding public are very positive! The new ramps look good, will be very easy to maintain, and have a 20-year warranty. We should note that while it is called a “skate park” it is really a “wheel park,” with BMX and scooter users welcome as well. These groups have always shared the existing facility well and we know they will continue share it into the future.

This installation culminates a four-year effort of fund-raising, grant writing, and hard work, and many years of dreaming before that. Of all the people who have moved in and out of this effort there are two people who have always been there: Lewis Leonard and Ron Burson. I think it is representative of what Girdwood stands for that two such different people worked together for so long on this valuable project. Their roles in demolishing the old ramps and moving the large half pipe were particularly instrumental.

Jonnie Lazarus, Kris Malecha, and Lewis Leonard submitted and received the Anchorage Park Foundation grant which was the largest single piece of the funding, and John Byrne III of Alyeska Resort was the largest private donor. Hats off to them!

Members of the Skate Park Committee selected American Ramp Company as the supplier, designed the park themselves, and coordinated the fundraising. Events such as the Fungus Fair and Mountain Metal Mayhem at Alyeska Resort were big hits. They sold and continue to sell T shirts and wristbands. On the Committee were Davey North, Gates Kessler, Fran Byerly, John Gallup, Shyla Pilon, Jonnie Lazarus, Maggie O’Malley, Cheyenne Fausett, Dakota Fausett, Clint Kyffin, Noah Malecha, Jon Grein, Lewis Leonard, Joshua Burns, Kris Malecha, Jeremiah Greenberg, Shawn March, Victor Miller, Steve Cole, James Allred, Becky Daughty, Jarrid Jackson, Rachel Drinkard, Jeremy Lyke, Derek Diehl, Rory Marenco and Glen Sterely. Many others read emails and gave input and support for the project.

The demolition/ramp moving team was led by Lewis and Ron, and included John Gallup, Kurtis Kramer, Mike Pando, Mike Wilson, Corbett Quinn, Rick Eiben, Steve Cole and Rich Jacobson. Ron Burson’s generosity with his tools must be noted here as well.

On the erection crew for the new ramps were foreman Kurtis Kramer who worked tirelessly on this project. Helping him were Mike Pando, William “Laz” Lazarus, John Gallup, Lewis Leonard, Doc Carter, Ron Burson, Steve Eckelman, Brian Burnett, Johnny ‘Mogul’ Eastaugh, Mike Bond, Reginald McGuire, Hank Hosford, Mike Wilson, Dakota Fausett, Maggie O’Malley, Carol Sanner and Rick (who was there every day, but whose last name we missed!)

Alyeska Resort provided the forklift and operator for unloading and staging the new equipment The crew was fed for the entire week of construction by Kris Malecha, Kate Sandberg, The Girdwood Rotary, Ron and Gwen Burson, Barb Crews and Julie Jonas. Thanks to the Merc and Glacier Valley Roasters for providing hot coffee and Diana Livingston and John Gallup for cold drinks.

The task of holding all of our fundraised and donated money fell to Girdwood Inc., and we’d like to thank them and especially Diana Livingston.

Phase 1 cost $80,000. The breakdown of the funding is as follows: The largest piece was the Parks and Rec foundation grant of $30,000 mentioned above. The second biggest piece was the fundraised and donated money, amounting to $21,000. There was $10,000 from the 2009 budget voted by the GBOS, and the remainder was income from events, chiefly the 2007 Girdwood Forest Fair and the coffee stand which operated on P and R property for several years. In addition, John Gallup did the handyman work for Parks and Rec this year, allowing us to put that $4000 into the mix.

We will continue to raise money and seek grants to fund phase two, and welcome the help of any and all Girdwoodians and friends who are interested. We hope that in some day soon we can have the park renewal completed and that this renewed facility will provide a great experience for Girdwood and visiting skaters and other wheeled users.