Skatepark Advocates Near Fundraising Deadline

An organization that facilitates building skateparks in Baltimore still needs $15,000 to finance a skatepark in Hampden.

Skatepark of Baltimore has 20 days to leverage additional money to help build the park behind the .

In March, the Tony Hawk Foundation announced it was awarding $25,000 grant to the organization to help it build a 16,000 square foot skatepark. Supporters of the project had already raised $25,000 and needed to raise an additional $25,000 by the end of May to leverage $75,000 in matching funds from the Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks.

Stephanie Murdock, president of Skatepark of Baltimore, said she remains hopeful that seven years of work will result in breaking ground on the park this year.

"I’m not getting much sleep at night but I feel people will step up," Murdock said.

Despite the challenge of trying to raise money before the deadline, Murdock said she feels positive that donations made through the Skatepark of Baltimore's website or to merchants along The Avenue would put them over the top.

 "Just yesterday when I woke up we were $17,000 away from our goal, and by the end of the day we were $15,000," Murdock said.

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