Construction begins on $300,000 Allegany Skate Park in village park

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

ALLEGANY — Construction of the Allegany Skate Park has begun in the village’s Allegany River Park on East Union Street.

Grindline Skateparks of Washington State broke ground earlier this month for the Allegany River Skate Park.

“They are hoping to be done by August, or no later than September,” said Jennifer DeLong, who helped coordinate the project with the Tony Hawk Foundation, now the Skatepark Project.

The Allegany Skate Park received a $300,000 grant from the Skatepark Project last year after COVID-19 derailed fundraising efforts by the local Allegany volunteer group.

Initially, the local group had pledged to raise $250,000, which represented half the cost of the skate park. 

Just when it looked like the project wouldn’t happen, DeLong applied for another grant and the Skatepark Project awarded the village $300,000, which includes $50,000 for landscaping and other environmental features, said DeLong.

“We did receive the Built to Play Skatepark Grant from the Skatepark Project, which gives us $250,000 to build the all concrete skatepark and an additional $50,000 to go towards environmental features,” DeLong said. “For the environmental features, we are working with the local greenhouse, Stayer’s, to put in new trees and shrubs.” 

“Kids and adults have been asking about it,” DeLong said. Local skateboarders have gotten a taste for skateparks after visiting the new ones in Ellicottville and Jamestown.” They will all have different features, she added.

DeLong had help with her role in the project from her son, Jhonas, now 17, who is not a skater, but has friends who are avid skateboarders.

Allegany Mayor Greg Pearl credited DeLong with the initial push for a skatepark and for sticking with the project to see it through.

Pearl said the skatepark will be an anchor for what will be a multi-use park.