SHELBY — B.J. Price has challenged himself daily to spread the word about Skate Ohio.
Chairman of the local non-profit organization, Price set two goals to strive for each day: 1. Explain Skate Ohio to one person; 2. Cold-call one company per day to seek potential partnership.
His personal challenges have begun to pay off.
A press release from ArcelorMittal has announced the Shelby tube manufacturer’s plans for a community outreach partnership with Skate Ohio.
ArcelorMittal will be providing the non-profit with $50,000 to help modernize the existing skate park at Veteran’s Park, located along West Park Drive in Shelby.
Funding will be used to order new ramps, fix existing ramps, modify the current skate setup, and fund general maintenance, cleaning and graffiti removal.
“ArcelorMittal looks forward to all other facets of this exciting collaboration as Skate Ohio grows its presence throughout north central Ohio,” the release said.
ArcelorMittal ‘honored’ to review Skate Ohio’s long-term vision
Skate Ohio’s involvement with Veteran’s Park began through conversations with the Shelby Park Board.
Price said Skate Ohio received written permission to fundraise and update the park through an adopt-a-park agreement with the city.
Veteran’s Park will remain city property — but the pact allows Skate Ohio to help transform the space, he said.
“We have the ability to fundraise and do upkeep, graffiti removal, all that good stuff,” Price said.
ArcelorMittal said its “honored to have reviewed the long-term vision of Skate Ohio.”
“In the near term, Skate Ohio will be working with the City of Shelby officials to modernize the Veteran’s Park skate park,” the release said.
(Below is a PDF of ArcelorMittal’s press release announcing its partnership with Skate Ohio.)
Partnership ‘a win’ for the community
Prior to the announcement, Price met with ArcelorMittal multiple times to develop a relationship with the local tube manufacturer.
“I got to go in (to ArcelorMittal) and I got to tell them the whole vision for kind of what Skate Ohio is trying to do, what we’re trying to accomplish in the community as a whole and our mission of trying to get skate parks fixed and updated,” he said.
The non-profit organization also puts on several community events, which include skateboard giveaways.
During meetings with the Shelby tube manufacturer, Price said he could tell those who met with him were truly listening.
“It was crazy,” he said. “It felt different.”
When ArcelorMittal told the Skate Ohio chairman they’d be contributing $50,000, Price said he was speechless.
“I at least made it to the truck before I started crying,” he said. “I was very grateful, but man, I got into the truck and it just like all hit and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is happening.'”
“It is such a win for the community, because not only are those funds going to go to repair a park that’s been there since like 1998 and really update it and it’ll be a good place to go to — but we (also) have plans to really try to revitalize those basketball courts right there,” Price said.
Skate Ohio listening to input from Shelby skaters
Price has been working and conversing with local skaters in the Shelby area to hear their input regarding skate park updates.
Local input is valuable to the non-profit’s chairman because Price said he doesn’t just want the skate park to thrive, but for the whole community to thrive along with it.
Next steps for Price and Skate Ohio include purchasing new ramps — which could arrive before the end of 2024 if everything goes smoothly, the chairman said.
Furthermore, Price said there’s several updates Skate Ohio plans to work on themselves, including repairs to existing equipment, graffiti removal and pouring some concrete features.
“We’re still working with Shelby locals to confirm these couple other features that we want to build ourselves that will really expand the park — but we don’t have to pay those high dollars for these companies to give us that stuff, it’s stuff that we can source locally,” he said.
Price hopes Skate Ohio’s partnership with ArcelorMittal can potentially “open the doors” to future projects and partnerships in communities around Richland County.
He said a goal of the Veteran’s Park project is to help raise awareness of the Shelby park and its surrounding community. Price plans to have community events and cookouts at the skate park in the future.
“That’s what we’re kind of hoping with this, just to do more good,” he said.
