Skateboarders wheel in $85,000 for their park

By Brian Messenger
Staff writer

June 26, 2008 05:31 am

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It was Paul King, the late husband of Andover resident Norma King, who first came up with the idea of holding a 24-hour fundraising event at the Andover Community Skate Park. That idea became a reality June 21.

"I think he might have helped us out with the weather," said Andover Youth Services Program Coordinator Tony Lombardi. "Just a beautiful day."

Paul King was remembered at the 5th annual skate-a-thon held in his name over the weekend as an enthusiastic regular at the Andover Community Skate Park who wasn't afraid to try something new. He learned to inline skate there as an adult. King died two days after his 40th birthday in June 2003 after a skydiving accident.

"Even though he's passed, he will always live on at the skate park," said Lombardi.

Lombardi said several hundred people attended the skate-a-thon throughout the duration of the all-day fundraiser.

"It was just a great event, much more than we anticipated," said Lombardi. "Lots of people from the community. All ages — skaters, non-skaters."

In all, $85,000 was raised for improvements to the 10-year-old skate park, including $10,000 that day and $50,000 through a donation from Converse.

Along with paying for improvements to the park located behind West Middle School, supporters of AYS and the Andover Community Skate Park eventually hope to design and construct a new ramp with the money raised.

Lombardi said the 20 to 30 skate park regulars were impressed with the support given by skaters and companies from both Massachusetts and New Hampshire for the event, which was held on the internationally-recognized Go Skateboarding Day.

"I think the kids were really proud of themselves to see what they were able to accomplish, but also felt supported by other skaters in the area," said Lombardi. "Those guys came to help our park. That was amazing. I think the kids appreciated that."

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