Skateboarders Flock to New Clawson Skate Park (video)
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 14, 2015)

After two years of planning, the Clawson Skate Park opened phase one of their project on Aug. 9.  With skateboarders from around Metro Detroit and several skateboard shops and clubs on hand for support, the opening was a celebration of the community’s effort.
Stephanie Shattuck was on the committee that helped bring the idea to reality.  “The kids had nowhere safe to go,” she said.  Sean Nasrey, Tina Shoemaker, and Christina Jabboori were also on the committee.
Area parents would drive kids to other cities, or the teens would skateboard in the street. Some even built their own ramps and obstacles.  The Clawson Skate Park gives them a chance to enjoy their sport close to home, on a track that has several fun dips and ramps and is safely away from traffic.  The park was built by Evergreen Skateparks.
Parents, kids and others in the community worked together to plan the park, raise money and awareness, and to get some of the funding included in the city budget.  The group is currently fundraising to complete the project. They’re created tee shirts, held a variety of events, and sought crowdfunding online.
The crowd cheered as Shattuck said “Just to be sure, so everyone is aware, this skate park is for every body!  Men, women, boys, girls, black, white, whatever color, race, anything. Everybody skates on this park whether you’re from Clawson or not.”
Learn more about Clawson Skate Park at www.clawsonskate.com.