Making the jump to improvement; Trio of boys come together to raise funds for skate park addition
Published 10:44 am Monday, September 28, 2015
From left: Ben Gladden, Colin Johnson and Bobby Gladden stand on the new grinding box at the Austin skate park. The trio of boys came up with an idea to hold a skate festival that raised approximately $3,000 for the equipment. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
A few area boys felt the need to make an addition to the Austin skate park, so they went out and helped make it happen.
Colin Johnson, 13, Bobby Gladden, 12, and Ben Gladden, 10, all came up with an idea to have a festival to raise funds for some new equipment at the skate park. That festival, which included skating, scooters and BMX bikes, was held last year and a new grinding box was recently put up at the skate park.
Aaron Arnold performs a trick on his bike at the Austin skate park Wednesday.
The festival raised the $3,181 needed to make the new equipment.
“People came from Owatonna, Albert Lea and Rochester to do it all at the festival,” Bobby Gladden said. “It was really fun to do it and it’s nice to see it all finished.”
Johnson and the Gladden brothers get to the skate park whenever they possibly can. Johnson said it felt good to help add something to the park for all of the area kids who use it.
“People wanted new jumps and we just figured we’d help,” Johnson said.
The three boys received help from Autumn Lopez, a local woman who has a passion for skateboarding, in setting up the festival.
While it’s always fun to compete, Bobby said that it’s also a blast just to come out and enjoy the park on a regular basis.
“We’re out here every day. We just like to get out here on our bikes and scooters,” he said.