Alex Colson Skatepark

Please help us raise money to build a skatepark in memory of local legend, Alex Colson.  Our community does not currently have a safe designated space for kids and adults to skateboard, ride scooters, ride BMX bikes, rollerblade, or enjoy WCMX (wheelchair skateboarding).  

This is a current unmet community need.   When your town doesn’t have a skatepark, your town IS a skatepark.  This causes nuisance skating and scooting- which means kids and adults are skating wherever they can- which isn’t safe.  This also makes skateboarding feel like a crime-  since kids and teens are “kicked out” of skate spots by homeowners, business owners, and police.   In some instances even ticketed.  In a 1990’s NIKE commercial campaign, several athletes were harassed by the police for playing tennis, jogging, and playing golf.  The commercial ended saying, “what if all athletes were treated like skateboarders?”   It does make you wonder. 

Our community is excellent at promoting health, well being, and mental illness awareness- yet we do not have a recreational facility for the at-risk age groups besides traditional team sports.   By age 13, 70% of teens have quit their team sports, 80% by age 15.  We live in the age of anxiety where 1/3 of school age kids struggle with clinically measured anxiety.  Not to mention adhd, add, depression, autism, etc.   Many kids don’t fit into a mold to be able tomake a sports team, afford the costs, do well with competition stress, get along with team mates, stick to a strict practice schedules, or be able to concentrate after school for several more hours.   Skateboarding is main stream now, named the 3rd most popular sport, and the fastest growing sport in the U.S.   Skateboarders skate because they want to,  not because someone told them to be somewhere at a certain time.  They skate with friends and are social- they get to pick their “team mates”.   They are creative, and each have a different skate style.  They are driven, passionate, and physically fit.   Self motivation and dedication is exemplified in skaters, they have taught themselves tricks, by failing multiple times, not quitting, having confidence and motivation to keep trying and finally land it.  

Alex Colson was New Albany’s skate legend.   He mentored so many skaters, was looked up to, and befriended everyone who had the pleasure of meetinghim.   Alex provided a safe space for anyone to share- talk about their struggles or challenges, and lend a supporting ear.   Alex was a breath of fresh air, loved everyone and excluded no one.    You felt good about yourself when you were around Alex.  You felt safe, understood, and loved.  

The Alex Colson Skatepark committee formed in order to voluntarily raise funds to build a skatepark in Alex’s name.  We want to build a place that represents Alex and also keeps kids safe and enhances the community.   A skatepark is a perfect project, since it will be all-inclusive (any demographic, sex, orientation, or age),  and encourage kids to get outside, off their phones or video games and get some exercise, and have FUN on a skateboard, scooter, BMX bike, rollerblades, or wheelchairs.  

All donations will be withdrawn and Handled by NAMI of Franklin County- our fiscal sponsor.   Donations will be used for skatepark design and/or construction of the park.  

thank you for your support!!!!

if you are interested in a sponsorship of one of the skatepark features, please contact us directly.   If you are willing to put up a poster or donation jar in your business- please let us know and we can drop off supplies to you.   Please share this on your social media.