Are you ready to Skate?
Well, we OFFICIALLY OPEN…
Matthew’s mother, Judy, was with us along with special guest emcee Rick Artz of Love Seed… and yes, he provided the music. So, let’s remember – SKATE! DON’T HATE!
Let’s keep the place clean and fun…
MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS
The Schell Family Foundation Preston, Kathleen, Jack & Brady Schell
Walker Construction
Atlantic Theaters
The Aldred Family
East of Maui
Grotto Pizza
The Cape Gazette
Rehoboth Marathon
J. Conn Scott, Inc.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Gallo Realty
Sussex County Council
Sign-A-Rama
Seashore Striders
The Matt Haley Companies – Global Delaware -
Highway One Limited Partnership
Circle in a Square Clothing
Maplewood Dental Associates
Brent Dieterle
Justin Lesko Nature Memorial Fund
Surf Bagel
The Calagione Family
Susan Selph
Deborah Appleby
Arena’s Deli
The Thomas H. Draper Family
Jack Lingo Realtor
Boulevard Ford Lincoln
Dogfish Head
Del-Coast Design & Build
Lyons Companies
George and Paula Simpson
Burton Builders & Zorzi Creations
Heirloom Wealth Advisors
Sierra Moon Surf & Skate
McDonald’s of Rehoboth
SoDel Concepts
The Matthew Shepherd Foundation
Big Boulder Pond Company
Xiafeng W. Rears
Atlantic Oceanside Motel
Drew Zorzi
The Dewey Beach Lions Club
Nicola Pizza
All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop
Alley Oop
The Big Chill Surf Cantina
Jeffrey Hitchens
The Brown Family
Coldwell Banker Resort Realty
Dynamic Mortgage Services
El Dorado Restaurant
Henlopen City Oyster House
Liquid Board Shop
Shoreline Construction
The Zechiel Family
THANK YOU ! ! !
SHALL WE BREAK GROUND?
“The Board of Trustees has given the “green light” to Epworth UMC Skate Project to begin raising funds to replace the existing wooden ramps with a concrete bowl and other features.” This was the lead sentence for the Skate Project page since August of 2013.That was then… Fast forward… July 2014
The Board of Trustees entered into a contract with Evergreen Skateparks to begin construction on the new Epworth Skate Park. Construction will begin on Monday, July 7. Construction is expected to take approximately 4-week. There will be a July 2014 SkateDay on the 13th using the existing equipment. Park designer Jesse Clayton will be there to talk about the progress and his design.
Fast forward… November 2014
On Saturday, September 27 we held “SKATE, DON’T HATE” SkateDay with special guest Judy Shepherd, the mother of Matthew Shepherd, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Mrs. Shepherd now spreads the message of The Matthew Shepherd Foundation of seeking to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, & Acceptance” through varied educational, outreach and, advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story.The first 100-SK8ers to register will receive special commemorative items.
Funds are still being solicited from individuals and businesses in the community at large. While Epworth UMC provides the “home” for the skate park, the funds for design and construction will be provided by donations from the greater Rehoboth community. A community-based group is responsible for planning and funding the park which will be open to the community for free.
Working with skate park designer, Jesse Clayton, owner of Fifth Pocket Design, a plan was designed that includes transition and street elements. Jesse has since become affiliated with Evergreen Skateparks and will continue to oversee our project with Evergreen being the contractor. Evergreen has built skate parks around the world with the Modiin Israel Skate Park being one of their most famous at 30,000 square feet.
The funding goal is $75,000 and efforts were mey in only 50-weeks. There wre cost overruns which fundraising continues to try to meet. Donations may be made through the church which makes them tax deductible as the laws allows, as this is a Capital improvement to the Epworth property. Donations made to the SK8park may only be used as part of the funding for the SK8park. All proceeds for the SK8DAYS go toward the fund as well. If you are interested in donating you may do so by sending a check to the church office and write SK8park in the memo line. If you would like for your gift to be acknowledged, please print and return a Donor Form to the church office. You may also call Darlene Ford (302.227.7743 x122) in the church office to make a donation via credit card or via the Epworth On-line Giving page.
FUNDRAISING EVENTS/PROGRAMS…
Because of cost overruns, we continue to welcome all donations. None are too big or too small. Every penny counts. We appreciate every single donation. If you have any questions about donating, contact Susan Selph at 302.245.6193.
BUY-A-BRICK… An area of the new Skate Park is being developed where a brick path will be installed. BUY-A-BRICK and be a permanent part of the park at Epworth. Bricks are $150 each and all the information you need is right here.
If you are interested in helping in our fundraising efforts by hosting a fundraising event please contact Susan and she will be happy to discuss this with you.
MORE IN THE NEWS…
SEPT 9… Wilmington NewsJournal reports on the Epworth Skate Project – FRONT PAGE – Click here – then search “epworth” in the News section (sorry, they don’t allow direct links) and be sure to watch this video…
About The Park…
Epworth hosted its first Skate Day in June of 2008. Using borrowed and donated equipment, the parking lot was converted into a “skate park” for the day. Local surf and skate shops supported the event and set up booths. The first event was so successful that 
Skate Day became a biannual event at Epworth with one in June, as close as possible to Go Skateboarding Day on June 21, and another one in the fall. Graphic artist, Paul Carpenter designed t-shirts and posters especially for Skate Days.
The events evolved to include skate contests with
prizes provided by Liquid Board Shop, Alley Oop, Sierra Moon Surf & Skate, East of Maui and Rehoboth Surf Shop. Skaters come from all over lower Delaware and Maryland. The average number of skaters at any given Skate Day is around 60. They range in age from 5 to over 40, with their expertise as varied as their ages. To see more pictures of our events, check us out on FaceBook: Skate-Epworth.
In the spring of 2012, a group of adult skaters came to Epworth with a desire to expand the opportunities for the skating community. Epworth UMC Skate Project was born. In May of 2012 we hosted our first-ever fundraiser at The Big Chill Surf Cantina. The event generated enough funds to expand and 
resurface all of the existing ramps. The number of Skate Days doubled from two to four and live music could be found at most. Members of the Skate Project continue to maintain the current area and plan for the future.
The ramps and equipment in Epworth’s parking lot are in use every day that weather permits. It is, in essence, the local skate park. Epworth’s skate area is open to everyone who wants to use it responsibly. If you use the park, it is a “skate at your on risk” agreement for which Epworth allows you to use it.
Epworth United Methodist Church 19285 Holland Glade Road Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302.227.7743