From left, Trevor Staples, Tony Hawk Foundation; Pete Scheira, Jamestown Skate Products owner, Cash Burbank, local youth skate ambassador, Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, and Cindy DiNapoli, City Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commission chairwoman, during the announcement about how the city of Jamestown received the Tony Hawk Foundation grant, in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, to build a new skate park. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

The city of Jamestown and area skateboarders have landed on both feet because they have been awarded a grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation.

On Thursday, Pete Scheira, owner of Jamestown Skate Products, with the assistance of Jamestown government officials, announced receiving a matching grant of up to $250,000, with a minimum of $50,000, for a new skateboard park in the city. The location of the new park will be across Jones and Gifford Avenue from McCrea Point Park. The new state-of-the-art outdoor skateboard park has also been made possible in the city with the assistance of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

“This is beyond a dream come true,” Scheira said about the new park.

In order to receive the grant, local fundraising efforts have been started, which includes all proceeds of Jamestown Skate Products T-shirts and hoodies going toward the park, Scheira said. Also, a new program called All Decks On Hand has been started where local artist paint designs on old skateboards or create items like shelves, with the sales from the program going toward the community fundraising initiative.

Scheira also said a special event will be taking place in the city on June 21, which is national Go Skateboarding Day. There will also be a fundraiser were people or businesses will be able to buy bricks or cement slabs with their name engraved that will be located in the new park. Scheira said they have a year to raise the necessary funds for the park.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation has also started a special fund for the project. People interested in donating can send a check to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701. For more information, visit crcfonline.org.

Scheira said so far everyone approached about the project has been very positive, which is different from when efforts were made to create the Chadakoin Park skateboard park.

He said as a child he wished there were skateboard parks available instead of riding on the sidewalks, which isn’t safe for the skater or the general public.

“It is about giving the kids a place to skate, and do it safely,” he said.

Trevor Staples, Tony Hawk Foundation spokesperson, said the location for the new park will be scenic because of the natural setting near the Chadakoin River and will be unique because aspects of the former trolley car building, which was partially demolished in recent years, is still standing and could be incorporated into the park.

Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, said the city played a role in the grant because the municipality had to submit and accept the grant on behalf of Scheira. He said the new park will be near a section of the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk.

He added that the Tony Hawk Foundation should be prepared to cut a check to the city for the full $250,000 because community residents will raise the necessary funding.

“If it is good for the kids, it is the right thing to do,” he said.

Vince DeJoy, city development director, said the city will be helping Scheira on Go Skateboard Day with the new Fund for Downtown Programming money. Also, he said city officials will be applying for state grants to go toward the local match. He added that the project wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of county officials who sold the property where the park will be located to city officials for $1 when the former trolley building was partially demolished.