Skateboard clinics to raise money for SG skate park

From the Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, edition of the Northwest Herald:

Skateboard clinics to raise money for SG skate park
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

SPRING GROVE – If your skateboard moves could use some work, you’ll want to stop by Worky’s Extreme Sports on Saturday.

The Spring Grove sport shop and village of Spring Grove will co-host a youth skateboard clinic from noon to 5 p.m. at 2020 N. Route 12 in hopes of raising money to build a skate park in town.

“We want to realize the vision we’ve had here for a couple years ... to build a skatepark,” said Craig Workinger, Worky’s owner. “That’ll be something we’ll be proud of, [and the children] are going to use.”

The village has wanted to build a skate park at Thelen Park for more than a year, but it hasn’t been able to because of the cost, said Bonnie DeGroot, events coordinator.

“We’d like to get it in there as soon as possible,” she said. “However, our budget funding is prohibiting doing it right away.”

Workinger said building the park would cost between $70,000 to $200,000.

Village officials hope that the park can be built next year, and they already have toured local skateparks to determine which type of park should be built.

“It’s going to be a meandering park that goes around the trees and fits the park atmosphere,” DeGroot said. “It’s just a matter of getting the funding going.”

Proceeds from Saturday’s event will go toward the cost of building the park.

The skate clinic will be led by Onus Skateboards and will cost $5 for participants. All participants must sign a waiver, and children younger than 18 must have parental permission.

There also will be roasted corn from Stade’s Farm and Market in Johnsburg and a pig roast from Billy’s Beef Hot Dogs and More in Spring Grove.

Tickets for the pig and corn roast are $20 for adults and $10 for children younger than 10.

In addition, the event will feature live music, a silent auction and a raffle.

For information, call 815-675-2923.