Stratham Skatepark Project

Our Story

In spring 2017, residents came together with a common goal: to find a way to build a community skatepark in our town. After multiple meetings with the Board of Selectmen, Budget Committee, and finally the Town Vote in March 2018 the residents were able to solidify $35,000 from the town to begin the project of a roughly 7,500 sq ft concrete skatepark.

Since the vote, the Stratham Skatepark Committee has initiated several fundraisers to raise money in order to minimize tax payer contribution. The funds raised through this auction will go directly to the Town of Stratham Parks and Recreation. If the skatepark is not fully funded and the project does not come to fruition, the monies raised will be put to another similar Parks and Recreation project here in Stratham.

Why is a skatepark is important? First it encourages a growth mindset. Perseverance, effort, grit, determination. If you’ve ever seen an athlete trying to learn a new trick you will see Growth Mindset in action. It doesn’t matter if it takes them 1000 hours to land the trick. It doesn’t matter if they fall. They keep pushing, keep trying, and never give up. At a skatepark you are naturally taught how to keep persisting and carry on through the mental and physical barriers to success. A skatepark promotes physical health. Children skate for hours at a time and many several times a week. When we live in a state where 24% (nearly one quarter) of NH kids ages 10-17 are obese this is important. There are no coaches needed, no schedules needed. Put those IPads aside because all these athletes need are their helmets and their choice of ride (skateboard, bmx bike, inlines, scooter). A skatepark promotes mental health. Riding significantly decreases stress and anxiety, promotes better sleep, increases memory. It is a unique activity because it combines extreme physical exertion with precise muscle coordination and balance. The complexity of performing tricks improves brain function at a fundamental level and stimulates new cell growth. A skatepark is a natural progression from playgrounds. Children utilize a skatepark in much the same way as they do a playground. At a playground as well as at a skatepark you see community, kids and adults talking, socializing, and connecting. At a skatepark kids are free to explore. There’s no “wrong way”. There is no getting “cut” from the team. It’s not about who is good... no one is "left out" – All levels are accepted practicing together, encouraging one another to grow and learn. It’s simply about having fun, being with friends, and being creative. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to watch someone ride in a skatepark it’s beautiful. Each athlete is an artist in how they interpret the skatepark. The tricks they choose and the combinations they put together is an art form and in many ways its freedom. I’m sure many of us watched the Winter Olympics this year. You may have seen that the United States Snowboarding team did very well. The United States skateboarding team is gearing up to take over the 2020 Olympics in Toyko. It will be the first time skateboarding is in the summer games! There are many opportunities and places in town for team sports for our kids – baseball, softball, soccer, and others. But team sports are not for everyone and while all young kids are able to play these sports by middle school many are being burnt out of the sports they have been playing for years and others are being outcompeted. A skatepark offers a place for these youth. We have 10 playing fields for these traditional young athletes to practice. The time is now to fill in the gap for non-traditional sports and allow these athletes a place to safely practice their sport of choice. A quote by Jim Rohn: “All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine.” Let’s start that legacy today…”