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This
section will introduce you to all the great people involved in making
the Skate Park a reality. If you would like to join our team, donate,
or volunteer, go to our Fund-Raising
page , or go to our Calendar
of Events page and come to the
next meeting. If you would like to contact us regarding the Skate Park,
you can email us at skatepark@localaccess.com.
Advisory Board Members:
Sandy Seeger,
Dan Keahey, Walt King, Julie Liseth,
Jason Imes, Andy Sennes, Tim Gilmore, Steve
Ward, Rick Conklin, Karen Longabaugh
Youth Co-Chair Members:
Nathan Miers, Kris Hannum
Site Development Committee:
Mark Dulin, Mike Schweisow, Todd Mason, Ed/Chris Butler.
Sandy Seeger:
Youth/Project Coordinator,
Co-chair
I am a mother that has chosen to teach
my children firsthand about the value of Community Service. My sons, Jeremy
and Brandon, spend alot of time in their inline skates or on their skateboards.
This has offered me an opportunity to not only be apart of their youth
independence but given me the privilege of being involved in it as well.
The youth in the club will learn the value of Community Service and the
"teamwork" concept needed to complete goals and see them through. The
Twin City Skate Park is going to have a great impact on our area and
also has offered my family a common goal and the opportunity to work towards
the completion of this park. I look forward to meeting others in the community
and the continued positive interaction with our local youth.
Dan Keahey:
Centralia City Council
, Co-chair
In 1991, I moved my family
to my hometown of Centralia. Since returning, I have looked for opportunities
to make Centralia/ Chehalis a better place. I graduated from the Centralia
Police Departments Citizen Academy and was trained for the Citizens-on-Patrol
program. I served on the School Board for the Centralia Christian School
for 5 years and was President of the Board for 1½ years. I also
am a 1999/2000 graduate of Leadership Lewis County.
I recently was
elected to the Centralia City Council, Position 2, for the 2000/2003 term.
In my Council position, my goal is to encourage and support activities
that make Centralia a "Family Friendly" community. We have a
strong Parks and Rec. system but there is one group that has been left
out; the skateboard, biking, and rollerblading group. I chose to become
aggressively involved in seeing the development of a skateboard park in
the Twin City area. I believe the community is ready to support this venture
and I am excited for the opportunities the park will bring to the youth,
plus the potential economic benefits a first-class skate park can have
on the local economy.
Steve Ward:
Co-Chair
I have always been involved with some
type of sport. As a father of two young children, I hope that they can
find the same level of enjoyment and accomplishment in participation and
competition in athletic events that I have. When I see kids on skates,
bikes and boards that are in the streets, parking lots and other inappropriate
places, I think that someday those could be my children. Therefore, I
feel that it is a worthwhile effort to try and put together a project
that would allow for a facility that would allow these activities in a
more suitable environment. While there is a short-term benefit to private
property owners by providing these young persons with a place to go with
their skates, boards and bikes, I also believe there is a long-term benefit
to society when we allow these individuals to release their energy and
creativity through their selected sports.
Kris Hannum- Youth
Co-Chair
My name is Kris Hannum and I am a youth co-chair. I got involved in the
making of the skate park for several reasons. The main one being that
all of the kids in the local areas, including myself, need a place to
ride their skateboards or bicycles. If we ride in the towns we live in,
there is the possibility that we will lose our equipment, or be fined.
So we all need a place to go and have fun and hang out. It will be good
for our community, and will bring a lot of people together. I think that
getting a skatepark will be a very positive and worthwhile thing in the
long run.
Nathan Miers- Youth
Co-Chair
I have been riding BMX around here for 8 years. I have
worked for a local bike shop for 6 of those years. In that time I have
met a lot of great kids who were into riding their bikes and skateboards
as a sport rather than just transportation. I have heard countless complaints
about harassment and equipment confiscation, just for riding in empty
parking lots or not having reflectors on a pure chrome (very reflective)
bike. I have traveled to many other skateparks with groups of friends,
each time taking our money to out of area merchants. Gas, meals, entertainment,
replacement parts, and patch kits really add up.
Jason Imes- Co-Chair
I have been interested in the development of a skate
park in the area from the time that I came to Lewis County. I was involved
in a group, several years ago, with the backing of approximately 100 youth
from the area, which was not fruitful because we were unable to make the
proper administrative connections. This group has acquired that aspect
and for that I am very excited. I have been skateboarding for about 10
years. When I started skateboarding the constant fear of police harassment
was always looming. My group of friends and I did not have a designated
place to cultivate our skills as athletes. To think that a community so
devoid of cultural diversity is expanding socially to accept this group
of youths gives me great joy. I think that the addition of a skate and
bike park will be a great asset to this community.
Julie
Liseth- Co-Chair
One of my roles at Centralia Parks & Recreation
is to provide recreational opportunities for our citizens. I view the
Twin City Skate Park as an excellent recreational source for the youth
and young adults in our community, as well as being a means to attract
visitors from outside the area to our city. I am excited about being a
part of this project! As the mother of two young children, I can relate
to those adults who want to have a fun, challenging place for their kids
to skate and ride, free from traffic and other hazards. Our youth today
need to have more healthy, positive choices in their recreational pursuits-
skate park offers a great choice!
Rick
Conklin- Co-Chair
As a father of two active boys growing up in
the Lewis County area, I am looking forward to supporting the Twin City
Skate Park. Having attended meetings about the Skate Park I have met
a variety of youth that have a strong desire to see their sports have
a place in our community to practice and improve their skills. It is my
privilege and honor to be part of this group to be able to work with my
boys and other youth from the area to see this become a reality.
MORE ON THE WAY...
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