It will memorialize Reid Menzer, who died in 2006 while street lugeing.
By Mike Argento

Groundbreaking for the Reid Menzer Memorial Skate Park will be June 2 during what has been billed as the largest skateboarding event York has ever seen. The event, at the skate park site in York’s Memorial Park, is also intended to raise money to help pay for construction of the 23,000-square-foot park.

So far, organizers have raised almost $245,000 toward the $334,000 cost of the park. “It’s pretty thrilling, obviously,” said Eric Menzer, Reid’s father and a vice president with Wagman Construction. “There’s a lot more work to do, but we’re clearly at the point where we’ll be able to make it happen.

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The park is intended to memorialize Menzer’s 14-year-old son, Reid, who was killed in a street luge crash in January 2006. Reid loved skateboarding, and in addition to being a tribute to his memory, developers of the park hope it will give skateboarders a place to practice their hobby safely.

Menzer said fundraising for the park has been going well. “I’m overwhelmed to see the way people have responded.”Contributions have ranged from $15,000 donations to $5 purchases of memorial wristbands. Students at Hannah Penn Middle School had a dress-down day fundraiser. Other students have put on band concerts and conducted candy sales to raise money. The skate park even received a $10,000 donation from Tony Hawk, perhaps the most famous professional skateboarder in the world.

The event, which runs noon to 6 p.m., will feature four bands, skateboarding demonstrations, art displays, a raffle and an auction that will include skateboards, tattoos and a signed poster from Hawk. Admission is $5. Menzer said the park – to be constructed, in part, by California Skateparks – should be finished by the end of the summer.

York Daily Record   
01/27/2007