SHELBY — Modernizations to the existing skate park at Shelby’s Veteran’s Park could be finished by the end of October.
On Thursday, B.J. Price unveiled virtual renderings — created by FiELD9: architecture — of the upgrades Skate Ohio plans to bring to the skating area on the city’s west side.
Price, chairman of the local non-profit organization, said new ramps have been ordered and project plans are set.
“The goal is to hopefully have it all done by the end of October, so it’ll be ready for those fall (skating) sessions and be ready to go for next year,” he said Thursday afternoon.
In July, Price announced a community outreach partnership with ArcelorMittal, a Shelby tube manufacturer, to modernize the park, located along West Park Drive.
ArcelorMittal will be providing the non-profit with $50,000 to help order new ramps, fix existing ramps, modify the current skate setup, and fund general maintenance, cleaning and graffiti removal.
Skate Ohio, ArcelorMittal celebrate partnership Thursday
Skate Ohio’s goal is to fix and update skate parks in communities throughout Richland County, including Shelby, Mansfield and Lexington.
Price said the non-profit organization ultimately hopes to someday begin after-school programming for local skaters.
“Not every kid fits the mold of baseball, basketball or football,” he said. “We want to give another option and something that the non-profit can come alongside and make it affordable.”
Price and Adam McElroy, co-founder of Skate Ohio, said it’s been a long journey to get where they are today — with several “shut doors” and “good lucks.”
“I got to explain what our dream was, to get this park up and running and back to its glory day,” Price said. “They (ArcelorMittal) actually listened.”
“They’ve been so amazing, beyond just donating. It’s been a partnership the whole way.
“We’ve been talking the whole time, coming in and shaking hands. They really care about what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it.”
‘This is going to mean a lot to me’
Several representatives from the Shelby tube manufacturer were present Thursday to present a check to Price and McElroy.
Tom Lally, plant controller at ArcelorMittal, said he’s thankful for Skate Ohio’s investment in the community.
“We can supply the dollars, but the works got to get done and these are the guys that do it,” he said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Lally, who said he remembers skating himself during his teens, said coming to a park like Skate Ohio has planned for Shelby “would be a dream” to his younger self.
“This is going to mean a lot to me, it’s going to mean a lot to the community and especially, like he (Price) said, the kids who traditionally aren’t interested in sports like football, baseball and basketball,” he said.
Ed Vore, CEO of ArcelorMittal Tubular Products North America, echoed similar sentiments, saying it’s important to reinvest in the community.
“It (Skate Ohio project) really touched us, because it does reach a population that doesn’t always make the front page of the local newspapers and stuff like that,” he said.
Skate area rededicated as Louis Beach skate park
Rick Gruver, ArcelorMittal Shelby plant manager, provided a brief history of the skate park Thursday afternoon.
He said some of the company’s employees helped build the original skate park.
“A lot of our employees were involved in developing the idea for the park and putting it together,” Gruver said.
The space was originally dedicated to former ArcelorMittal employee Louis “Louie” Beach, who lost his life in an industrial accident.
On Thursday, Price announced the skating area would be rededicated as the Louis Beach skate park. Beach’s wife and daughters were in attendance Thursday.
“We get to once again redo it (park) in honor of Louie (Beach) and I’m glad to see his family here today,” Gruver said. “I’m blessed to be in an opportunity to be involved in another community project.”
(Below are photos from Skate Ohio and ArcelorMittal’s ceremony at Shelby’s Louis Beach skate park Thursday afternoon.)
