Skaters Take Back the Night in O.C.

 By Tim Kelly

Skating under the stars? It’s an idea whose time has come. The fondest wish of most regulars at the Ocean City Skatepark became reality last Saturday night as more than 85 people paid for the privilege to benefit the Ocean City High School Skate Club. The first Night Skate is in the books as an unqualified success. “It was awesome,” event organizer Willie Fannon said. “Everyone had a great time. Everyone was asking, ‘OK, so when is the next one going to be?”’ The answer remains to be seen, but Fannon is hoping it’s sooner rather than later. “This was the best event yet at the Skatepark,” said Fannon. “One of the things we’re learning is that it doesn’t have to be a skating competition. I think more people will come out (in the future) if it’s not a competitive thing. This event was really all about community building.” Before the sun went down, some of the participants stopped for a group photo. Skaters arriving for Night Skate were greeted by a professional photographer to have the moment recorded for posterity. The photos were taken in front of a “step and repeat,” or photo backdrop with the Ocean City logo, giving the event the feel of a Hollywood premiere.  Snacks were donated by St. Peter’s Church of Ocean City, and “DJ Bill” of Shore Entertainment kept the party going with popular music. The lights themselves were donated by the Skatepark’s good neighbor, the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters. “We had a great pre-event buzz, which helped us to get such a great crowd,” Fannon said. “The post-event buzz was really good, too.”  Waverly Dunn in action at Night Skate.  Night Skate was Fannon’s and the skate community’s third try at helping to organize an event held under the stars. The first try was washed out, as was a planned skate during Ocean City’s popular First Night festivities. The third try worked out, and Fannon said the skate community could not have been happier. He hopes the decision makers at City Hall will see the value and consider permanent lighting at the park. “This is one of the best skateparks on the East Coast,” Fannon said. “It’s a tourist attraction. We had people come here from some pretty big distances. They left really impressed.” Fannon said Mike McGuire, a former employee at the old OC Skatepark near Wonderland Pier, works at a skatepark in Ambler, Pa., that recently installed lights. “Mike thought our event was awesome, and he told us the lights are really working out well in Ambler. This is definitely something (Ocean City) could benefit from as a tourist attraction and destination,” Fannon noted.  Temporary lights were provided by the Ocean City Fire Department. The Skatepark was years in the making. After much discussion and some opposition, the city applied for and received $500,000 in Green Acres Recreation funding to pay for the bulk of construction. Ocean City earmarked the additional $250,000 as part of its capital budget plan, in the form of a loan.  First Ward Councilman Mike DeVlieger, the father of two teenagers, was a staunch advocate for the project, launched with input from a committee of skaters, elected officials, city employees and community members.  Rules calling for the mandatory wearing of helmets and pads and banning smoking and foul language were instituted and enforced by an attendant at all times the facility is open. The park was an immediate hit. Now, Fannon and the community would like to see the park advance to the next level. “There are a lot of parents and community members who would contribute to make lights a reality and to extend the park’s hours,” he said. “I would like for the city to tell us how much it would cost to install permanent lights and to pay an attendant for the extra hours. I have no doubt (the skate community) would respond.”  Jen Bowman and the crew from St. Peter’s Church provided food and snacks for the skaters.