Kids & Family

Nyack Skate Park Fundraiser Features Unique Art Collection

Organizers of Deckade, an art benefit for the Nyack Skate Plaza, are expecting more than just local visitors for the event Saturday Dec. 7 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Nyack Fencing Academy at 40 Lydecker St. 

"We're getting some national press in the skateboarding world," said Sarah Anderson, chair of the skateboard committee. "It is a significant event."

The major attraction is the Bobshirt Collection of skateboard art from the 1990s,including original art by Marc McKee and Sean Cliver. 

"The artists of '90s skateboarding broke the mold," Anderson said. "Some of it was racy. It really broke all the molds. they all changed the face of skateboarding art forever. One person over the years acquired this incredible collection and original art to go with it. It has been shown in pieces here and there, but never out in its entirety. This is the first and perhaps last time the entire collection will be out. We expect people to travel to see it."

The event will also feature music from the '90s, beer from Defiant Brewery and Tapas by Cae Barcel. Tickets cost $45 in advance, $50 at the door. There are also Angel Tickets that cost $100. All of the money raised will go to the Nyack Park Conservancy, which is handling fundraising for the skate park as well as other improvements to Memorial Park, including the playground. Tickets are available here. Ages 21 and older only. 

Chocolate Skateboards, the Nyack Park Conservancy and Nyack Fencing Academy are sponsoring Deckade.

"There will be great music, great food and great beer for a great cause," Anderson said. "(The skate park) will really give youth somewhere to go. I sat in on a youth panel in the Nyack Center and they all said they have nowhere to go."

Anderson said a $3,000 donation by Justin Tracy and Russ Wooley of Wright Brothers Real Estate got the fundraising to the $15,000 necessary to pay for the park's design. WhoSkates Skatepark Design and Construction was chosen as the contractor after a presentation in September. 

"They were a slam dunk," Anderson said. "The Village is now writing up the contract. They have done some beautiful stuff, really beautiful parks."

Anderson said there will be more opportunities for public input on the design, which is expected to create a park that can be used for more than just skate boards. Melody Patrick of the Nyack Recreation Department said she hopes to have skateboarding lessons for beginners in the park once it is completed. 

"They understand it needs to be multi-functional and it needs to be as green as possible, with planting and drainage," Anderson said.

She said she did not have a firm cost for building the park in part because the design is not in place yet, but the Conservancy is estimating $150,000.


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