Union of Youth

A pretty full house was present at the December 9th Ames Park Open House held at the cafeteria of the High School. This was a public meeting and about 30 youth and 25 adults crowded around to address questions, concerns, field questions about the future skatepark at Ames Park. The Coalition has been working hard for 2 1/2 years to make this dream a reality. The goal for the skatepark is to break ground and complete in 2009.

This article is written by Zach Pruitt and can be found on the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) website:

Members of the Northfield Skateboard Coalition donated 16 brand new skateboards to the United Christmas Sharing program, run by the Northfield Community Action Center. The Christmas Sharing program provides holiday gifts to local youth from families who are struggling financially.

This summer, the youth in the Skateboard Coalition heard from a community member that skateboards were one of the most-requested items by teens at the Christmas Sharing program. The youth in the Coalition then raised money by holding a series of fundraisers this summer and fall, including the Painted Skateboard contest. With the funds, the Coalition was able to buy 16 new boards, which they helped to assemble before donating them to Christmas Sharing. Along with the new skateboard, each child also received a coupon for a free helmet.

The Northfield Skateboard Coalition and the Northfield News are teaming up for a city-wide contest that is available to anyone who enters. The competition is simple: find 6 of the painted skateboards by November 20 and you can enter to win a drawing for $50 in Northfield Chamber bucks. Simply email the location of six boards to Jaci Smith at the Northfield News (jsmith@northfieldnews.com) or drop off the completed form below to the Northfield News office (115 W. 5th Street). But hurry now! Time is running out! All skateboards are visible in certain Northfield downtown businesses.

All of the skateboards are for sale. Money raised from their sale will be used to buy skateboards to give out to low-income children as part of the Community Action Center’s Christmas Sharing program. If you see a skateboard hanging in downtown Northfield that you’d like to own, call 664-3524.

The Northfield Skateboard Coalition took one of its monthly field trips to Faribault’s Renegade park on Sunday the 9th. Free field trips are now being offered to skaters who attend 3 out the 4 weekly Coalition meetings (which are Wednesday at 5:00pm). About 8 youth attended the free trip.

For a whole bunch of other photos click here.

The Northfield Skatepark Coalition was selected by Waste Management as the recipient for the May-July Green Team Award and at the Monday August 18th City Council meeting the Coalition accepted a check for over $1200 for their involvement . The Skateboard Coalition was responsible for periodically monitoring the recycling bin at Econofoods and received $15/ton for the recycled paper and cardboard discarded in the bin. The Coalition cleaned up the downtown riverwalks, helped youth in the after school Summer Ventures program make reusable canvas bags, and watered plants for the America in Bloom competition as part of its “green” responsibilities during the three month period.

The Northfield Skateboard Coalition continued its busy summer schedule by cleaning up the downtown riverwalks for part of its Green Team Award responsibilities. A group of about 15 kids ranging from ages 7 to 19 braved the heat and humidity by sweeping, picking up garbage and recycling, and celebrating a job well done by eating at Hogan Brothers. The Coalition was selected by Waste Management as the recipient for the May-July Green Team Award. The Skateboard Coalition has been responsible for periodically monitoring the recycling bin at Econofoods and encouraging everyone to drop off their paper and cardboard products. The Coalition has also been responsible in incorporating service projects that promote a cleaner environment and recycling.

The Northfield Skateboard Coalition updated the City Council at Monday’s meeting, going over accomplishments from the past few months and future endeavors in progress. A big high give to Trevor Smith, Ruth Amerman, and Jim Hores for going to the open mic and informing the Council.

The Northfield Skateboard Coalition raised close to $1000 this past Saturday during the 5th Bridge community-wide garage sale. From 7:15am until 2:00pm skateboarders and other members of the Coalition were out at Mary Nelson’s house (thanks Mary!) selling items that many superb individuals donated to the cause. Another thanks must go to the Sayner Family for a wonderful donation during the event. I bet the Coalition’s site was the only one with bunnies for sale. For more photos and more in depth coverage, check out Griff Wigley’s post on Locally Grown.

The Northfield Skateboard Coalition is getting famous once again and was selected by Waste Management as the recipient for the May-July Green Team Award. The Skateboard Coalition will be responsible for periodically monitoring the recycling bin at Econofoods and encourage everyone to drop off their old newspapers, magazines, phone books, hard and soft cover books, paper of all kinds, cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard, cardboard cartons, and a slew of other paper and paper-related products into the recycling bins at Econofoods and Cub Foods. For their efforts the Coalition will receive $15/ton of recycled paper. Get recycling!

Members of the Northfield Skateboard Coalition received a check for $10,000 from the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) on Wednesday April 23rd. Skateboard Coalition members and HCI Board members celebrated the donation following the Coalition’s weekly meeting at The Key.

In October, HCI had agreed to match, dollar-for-dollar, any money the Coalition raised from October 15, 2007, to April 1, 2008, up to $10,000. The Coalition met its $10,000 goal and, thus, received the full $10,000 donation from HCI.

With the HCI donation, the youth in the Skateboard Coalition have now raised nearly $30,000 to contribute to the construction of a skateboard plaza in Northfield.