Andover Skatepark
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On Monday July 21st the American Ramp Company will be bringing a selection of their product to the Andover Skate Park for us to check-out. Participants will have the opportunity to skate, in-line or BMX on their ramps. Each participant must fill out a ARC waiver. These waivers are available at the Andover Skate Park.

This event is free of charge and open to all skaters. The Andover Skate Park will open at 3pm on Monday in preparation of the event. The ARC demo will take place from 5 to 7pm. For more information please stop by the park or call the Youth Services at 978-623-8241.

In separate news, the Andover Skate Park will be closed on Wednesday July 23rd for a staff development day. Please enjoy a day of skating your favorite local street spot!

The Andover Skate Park and it’s staff will be taking some time on Friday to enjoy friend’s, family and a few barbeque’s. We hope you have a happy Fourth of July. The park will reopen on Saturday July 5th at 12pm.

I would like to take a second to thank everyone who made this years Paul King Memorial one of the best events that Andover has ever seen. So many people’s input, ideas and hard work went into the most memorable 24 hours in Andover Skate Park history. I think those who knew Paul, would all agree that he was definitely looking down on us with a huge smile that day!

This event was started because Paul was an inspiration to the staff at the skate park. Paul will continue to inspire us through the excitement and energy that the skaters of the park continue to display. You spent countless hours deciding contest format, designing posters and this website, hanging up flyer’s and walking house to house raising money for the cause. Thank you for all that you did to make this happen.

We like to claim that the Andover Skate Park is one of the best municipal (town run) skate parks on the East Coast and events like this help to solidify that belief. With the support of every skate shop within 60 miles, we are able to provide young skaters the chance to see top-notch amateur skaters at their local park and go home with skateboards, sneakers, shirts and of course plenty of stickers! Thank you for all that you continue to do to help our skate park.

As most of you know, the Andover Skate Park was started by a small group of skaters and a dedicated group of adults. Those kids and the folks at the Andover Youth Services, particularly Bill Fahey, deserve a huge thanks from anyone who has skated at our park. This group stood up for what they wanted and Bill helped them through a tough bureaucratic process that allowed for Andover and the Merrimack Valley to be home of a great skate park! Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the young people of this community and thank you for your continued support of the Andover Skate Park - we would not be where we are today without you.

J.J., Norma and Judy - I’m not even sure how to thank you guys. You all gave so selflessly. You attended every meeting, made countless phone calls, helped to focus me when necessary, donated your time and money and helped to carry Paul’s energy throughout the entire event. The day would not have been possible without you.

There are countless individuals and groups that made this day possible and I would like to thank you all right now. You know who you are - you are the ones who are still trying to catch up on sleep or explain to your friends where you were that weekend. THANK YOU!!!

With all this help, the Andover Skate Park was able to raise almost $86,000 for ramp repairs and the construction of a new ramp. For more stories about this event, please check out these newspaper articles:

http://www.andovertownsman.com/townspeople/local_story_177175858.html?keyword=topstory

http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_175024103.html

Thanks again for everything. I look forward to seeing you down at the park throughout the summer!

Tony Lombardi

Skate Park Manager and Program Coordinator - Andover Youth Services

The Andover Skate Park is proud to offer quality skate instruction throughout the summer with day lessons and clinics. These lessons and clinics are available for a wide range of ages and abilities. Lessons and clinics give the skate park staff the opportunity to meet new young people and encourage the beginner skaters to push their abilities.

Group Lessons are held on Saturday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30am. Each session is limited to 10 skaters and costs $25 per skater. Participants must sign up in advance for lessons. Please call 978-623-8241 or stop by the park to register.

Private Lessons must be scheduled with one of the skate park staff. Private lessons allow for one on one instruction. The cost is $40 per hour.

Clinics. The Andover Skate Park staff is working on putting together a 3 day clinic and a few one day clinics throughout the summer. Clinics will be taught by local amateur skaters and teach participants everything from basic skills to more advanced techniques. Please check back soon for more info about these clinics.

A decade ago a young man from Andover stood before his neighbors to address them on the merits of voting in favor of article 65. A ‘YES on 65’ would give the young people of Andover the right to build a place where they could escape their highly organized sports and other recreational activities. A skate park would be a place ‘just for fun and noncompetitive people… regardless of their skill level.’ This statement still rings true today and the skate park remains a positive and dynamic atmosphere that ‘allows kids to be creative and provides some balance in our (their) lives in terms of expression and exercise.’

For 10 years, the Andover Skate Park has been organized, maintained and supported by the Andover Youth Services. Over this time, the Andover Skate Park has given people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy a dynamic atmosphere, fueled by creativity, dedication and passion. The Youth Services and Skate Park staff are committed to ensuring a safe and positive environment for people of all ages and abilities. Aside from great professional demos, the Andover Skate Park is home to many great events, including BBQs, concerts, and contests. It has always been the intention that the Andover Skate Park would be a place for young people in the Merrimack Valley to express themselves in diverse, dynamic and creative ways, through skateboarding, music, painting or maybe something else. We hope that we will see you down at the park sometime this season. Whether you are new to skateboarding, trying to rediscover your inner-thrasher or have been waiting since October 2007 for the park to open, please c’mon down and check things out.

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