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Tony Hawk at the Carnegie, Pennsylvania Skatepark Opening

Tony Hawk and the Birdhouse crew will be christening the new Grindline masterpiece that Lil Eddie and crew constructed at the Pitcher Park Memorial Skatepark. The celebration begins on Monday, August 25th, 2014 at Carnegie Park located at Forsythe RD and Cook LN Carnegie, PA 15106. The Birdhouse Skateboards Team exhibition at Pitcher Park Memorial Skatepark is a free, public event and the Birdhouse Team exhibition will start at 5 PM. For more information, visit the Pitcher Park Memorial Skatepark Web site at www.pitcherpark.com.

Press Release:

The greater Pittsburgh area will soon have a world-class skateboard park, and one of the project’s benefactors also happens to be one of the world’s greatest skaters. Tony Hawk and his Birdhouse Skateboards team will visit the newly constructed Pitcher Park Memorial Skatepark on August 25, 2014 for a pre-opening performance, at the conclusion of their Midwest Birdhouse On The Road Tour. The park is expected to open to the public this Fall.

The celebration event will showcase the meticulously sculpted features of the 17,000-square-foot concrete skatepark. Built by Grindline Skateparks of Seattle, Washington, it includes a street course, bowls, and its signature 20-foot-diameter fullpipe. Pitcher Park Memorial Skatepark is the first of its kind in the Pittsburgh area, and resulted from the efforts of one mom and an army of supporters, who worked tirelessly to create a safe, sanctioned place for kids to skate.

With guidance and funding from the Tony Hawk Foundation, lead skatepark advocate Mary Pitcher launched the effort in 2008 to create a facility for local youth that would also serve as a loving memorial to her sons, Vincent and Stephen—both avid skateboarders and BMXers who drowned earlier that year.

“What began as an idea, stemming from a terrible tragedy, Pitcher Park has turned into one of the most positive and rewarding experiences of my life,” said Mary Pitcher. “People who knew my sons and complete strangers came together and worked hard toward a common goal for the children.”

Pitcher and her crew’s efforts were noticed by nearby Bridgeville native Ken Schultz, who dedicated time and more than $500,000 from the Ken & Carol Schultz Foundation to see the project through to completion.

“Carol and I have supported Tony Hawk Foundation’s efforts to build safe spaces for kids to exercise and be creative for many years,” said Ken Schultz. “So we knew the impact that a world-class skatepark could have in the Pittsburgh area. After meeting Mary and seeing how the kids and the community of Carnegie completely embraced the idea, we funded this project so it could become a reality more quickly for everyone involved, and the results have been nothing short of amazing.”

The Pitcher Park Memorial Skatepark pre-opening event will feature Birdhouse team members Tony Hawk, Clint Walker, David Loy, Kevin Staab, Clive Dixon, Shawn Hale, and Shaun Gregoire. Despite concluding their grueling Midwest tour just the day before, the team is excited to visit the new park and be among the first to test its features.

“This park represents everything we at the Tony Hawk Foundation hope to see in a community skatepark,” said Tony Hawk. “Local youth involved in planning it, strong community support, and a great design that includes something for everyone. We can’t wait to skate it!”

“I am honored to have worked with the Ken & Carol Schultz Foundation, the Tony Hawk Foundation, the Borough Of Carnegie, and the many companies and people that stepped up to make this dream a reality to honor my sons,” said Pitcher. “Seeing this park come alive and anticipating the appearance by Tony Hawk and the Birdhouse team just proves that anything is possible if you don’t give up.”

While the skatepark structure is completed, surrounding landscaping and lighting to allow safe skating at night are yet to be installed. The skatepark will remain closed to the public until these tasks can be completed.

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