RCA Exploring the Formation of a Formal Skateboarding Association

Members of the Rockville Community Alliance are exploring the formation of a formal skateboarding organization in town.

The ultimate goal would be to have a formal skateboard park built, one official said.

"It would be a formal board to oversee the skateboard park, similar to Little League and youth soccer," said Thomas DiDio, a Town Council member and chairman of the RCA Skate Park Organizing Committee.

DiDio said the idea makeup of the association would consist of skaters, parents and town officials. He said the RCA would like to explore formal non-profit status for the board.

"Theoretically, we would like to have it in a public location, a popular location," DiDio said.

He said there are a number of grants the board could pursue. DiDio said he would like to sit down with U.S. Rep Joseph Courtney to explore options.

He also mentioned the Tony Hawk Foundation and Travelers as potential sponsors.

"We want to contact the foundations and the large corporations, but we also want to get the local business community involved," DiDio said. "Many smaller donations can build up to a large amount of money."

The RCA will typically shops off local skateboarders at its events. 

The RCA is scheduled to re-visit the matter at its Sept. 12 meting. A location has not been determined yet.

DiDio said a skateboard park would keep young people of of the parks and parking lots and off the steps of buildings if a park were built. He added the young skaters have thrown their support to a park.

He said RCA members cam across a slogan that summer up their goal.

"It said, "'If your town doe not have a skateboard park, your town will become a skateboard park,'" he said.

DiDio said RCA members may even want to invite other towns to chip in and then invite its residents to use the park as a regional service.