BUTLER — The skatepark at Stoke Run Action Sports Park was full Saturday afternoon.
Located in the farmlands of Butler, the skate and BMX haven hosted a ‘Shred Like a Girl’ skate jam Saturday, celebrating women and girls in all areas of skating.
The six-hour event included goodie bags, prizes, workshops, contests and snacks, as well as a miniature art fair featuring pieces from local skaters.
Local skaters provided beginners’ workshops from noon to 1 p.m., which was followed by a jam and best trick contest at 2 p.m.
Awards were given for ‘Most Improved,’ ‘Best Trick’ and ‘Most Hype.’
‘Shred Like a Girl’ draws out-of-state skaters
Referred to as one of ‘the best skate parks in Ohio,’ Stoke Run’s Saturday skate jam drew visitors from around the country.
Evelyn Romano and her two daughters, Gabi, 7, and Isa, 11, made a six-hour trip from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, about 35 miles from Milwaukee.
Romano said she and her daughters began skating around four years ago, beginning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspired by her daughters to skate alongside them, she said Saturday marked the trio’s third skating competition — their second competing against each other.
“This is what makes my heart beat. This is what brings me joy,” Romano said as her daughters skated around the park with beaming smiles.
She said her family enjoys roaming the country to skate, adding they travel to Colorado during the summer and just recently completed a skating trip to Jamestown, New York.
“This sport has brought so much confidence to us,” Romano said. “We’ve met so many amazing people throughout the country.
“This is the first event that we’ve been to that’s been an all-girls skate event, so that’s why we had to come. I think it’s so important to get the next generation started.”
Stoke Run celebrates ‘everyone that wants to skate’
Caleb Burns, owner of Stoke Run Action Sports Park, was thrilled with Saturday’s turnout.
Burns said it was special to host an event celebrating women and girls in all areas of skating.
“If places like this didn’t exist to put those events on, then that thing just kind of dies,” he said. “You have to foster those environments for all circumstances and all ages.
“We want to celebrate everyone that wants to skate, blade, and do things that aren’t traditional team sports.”
Formerly the Ohio Dreams Action Sports Camp, the action sports park re-opened to the public in July 2023.
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Renowned ramp builder Nate Wessel designed the 20,000 square-foot indoor park, complete with a foam pit, vert wall and box jump.
The facility also includes a 25,000 square-foot outdoor skatepark and BMX dirt jumps.
Stoke Run will host a freestyle USA BMX qualifier competition in May and a national scootering qualifier in June.
The facility is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Stoke Run is open from noon to 10 p.m.
Visit Stoke Run Action Sports Park online for more information.
