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INDIANAPOLIS – Nashville teens will soon be able to enjoy a new skate park, thanks to a recently launched crowdfunding campaign. The campaign is sponsored by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and offered through the crowdfunding platform developed by Patronicity. The campaign is led by a local group, Kids on Wheels, in partnership with Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association (BETA).
“It is important for young people to have activities and places where they can spend time with their friends,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch.”Kids on Wheels and the Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association have worked diligently over the past few years to get funding for this park. I’m pleased that we are in a position to partner with them in hopes of making their vision a reality in Nashville.”
If the campaign reaches its $50,000 goal by Saturday, September 22nd, the ‘Brown County Skate Park’ project will receive a matching grant of $50,000 from IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program.
Click here for project details and to donate.
The funding raised during this campaign will allow Kids on Wheels and BETA to build a much needed space specifically for local teens, who currently have few places to go or gather in Brown County. The skate park will be built in Deer Run Park, with features like a curve wall, euro gap, manual, wave and pole jam. Additional funding committed by local donors along with volunteer labor from several local Boy Scout members will allow for extra features including a hammock conversation pit, tire swings, a ga-ga pit, picnic tables and landscaping. The project team is excited about the opportunity to complete fundraising for this teen-centric park, which has received a lot of attention in the last several years.
“As a young adult, I really appreciate the need to have a safe place for healthy and fun activities,” said Isaiah Smith, a teen member of Kids on Wheels. “It’s been disappointing to not have many places like that for teens my age here in Brown County. For years, my friends and I have dreamed of fixing this situation by building a skate park, and I hope our community agrees that the time is now to make it happen by supporting our campaign.”
Since the CreatINg Places program began last fall, projects have raised in excess of $1,330,000 in public funds and an additional $1,100,000 in matching IHCDA funds.
The CreatINg Places program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and Local Units of Government are eligible to apply.
Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should they successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.
