History of The Movement to Get a Skatepark in Ithaca

The movement to get a public skatepark in Ithaca began in the late eighties. One of the main skaters working towards a park at the time was Tem Schindo, whom the skatepark is named after. Although the skaters had the support of the Youth Bureau, skateboarding was still considered a fringe activity and the city decided not to go forward with the project then.

The skaters never stopped skating though and in 1996, the movement to get a skatepark in Ithaca started again. By that time "extreme" sports were beginning to be accepted due to increased television coverage and the resulting rise in popularity of the sports. The Ithaca City government was more accepting of the idea this time and a skateboard committee was formed. After 3 years of hard work the skatepark was completed in 1999 in Wood Street Park.

Since then the skatepark has seen its use and popularity grow. It has hosted several contests, professional demos, and the Ithaca Youth Borough Skatecamp.

The environment has been rough on the park over the years and its foundation is sinking. The results are cracks in the concrete and low spots where water collects. The drainage problem builds upon itself as the sitting water increases the sinking and wears away at the concrete.

A third push is neccessary to renovate the skatepark and make it a sustainable part of the Ithaca community.