IW ramps revamped

Published 9:14 pm Monday, December 8, 2014

 At Carrollton’s Nike Park recently, Blake Helmicki and Justin Ortiz make use of the skate/BMX facility that was completely revamped with several funding sources, including fundraising by a group set up by area teens in 2012.

At Carrollton’s Nike Park recently, Blake Helmicki and Justin Ortiz make use of the skate/BMX facility that was completely revamped with several funding sources, including fundraising by a group set up by area teens in 2012.

A totally revamped skate park in Carrollton shows what young people can achieve when they come together with a common vision.

A grand opening ceremony was held recently for the facility at Nike Park, 13036 Nike Park Road.

On one side of the ribbon-cutting scissors was the chairman of the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors. On the other was the president of Friends of Nike Skate/BMX Park, which raised money toward the project.

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“When they started this, they were all 15 to 18 years old,” said Mark Furlo, director of Isle of Wight County Parks and Recreation.

“That’s probably the most unique thing — we had a group of kids raise money for this.”

The radically revamped facility, which now has an assortment of concrete ramps, rails, steps, platforms and other features, began when the county decided to replace the original galvanized steel ramps, Furlo said.

“We made the decision it would be better to go concrete,” he said.

The county applied for a grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and was awarded $100,000. It also received a $150,000 donation from Isle of Wight Amateur Athletics.

The Friends of Nike Skate/BMX Park group started raising money in 2012, Furlo said, and was eventually able to chip in a little more than $7,500.

These funds were used to leverage $50,000 from the county, Furlo added, and the Friends group was involved in the process of selecting a vendor to build the facility, along with its design.

“That group of kids was very active in the whole process,” Furlo said.

The facility is drawing skaters and BMXers from across Hampton Roads. Two friends using it recently were Blake Helmicki and Justin Ortiz.

Helmicki, who had come from Newport News, said the original facility “wasn’t put together right.”

“Now it’s all concrete, and it’s a good park,” Helmicki said. “It’s definitely worth the drive.”

Ortiz said he lives about 45 minutes away. “Everything that we have in our area is not to this caliber,” he said. “It’s worth the drive.”

Furlo said the old galvanized steel items — “three major structures, or ramps, and then a couple of smaller rails” — will be installed in a park in the town of Windsor.

“There’s no completion date,” he said. “We’re still working with the contractor and getting a slab.”