Tiffin, Ideal City for Tony Hawk & his program
In the world of skateboarding, Tony Hawk is one the of most prominent public figures in history. He built a noteworthy and distinguished career through an activity that started as a hobby to keep him active as a child. Many children throughout the world also enjoy skateboarding, but not all are able to access a facility designated for practicing riding and performing tricks. Given his connection to the communities throughout the United States, and the awareness of laws and regulations in many cities that prevent skateboarders from enjoying this interest, it is not surprising that Tony Hawk started his own foundation to give back to communities everywhere. The website for his foundation details the requirements for skate park grants, and the requests of his organization are very clear and community-friendly.
Features of the skate park grant application include:
1) Free to the public
2) financially backed by the community through fundraisers
3) diverse obstacles in the skate park
There are several other requirements that Hawk’s organization asks for, but nonetheless, the popularity of skate parks through his organization are very clear. Over 500 skate parks in the United States have received funding through Hawk’s foundation, but there is always room for more skate parks in local communities.
According to his website, a city such as Tiffin Ohio has yet to apply for a grant. However, they would greatly benefit from applying for a grant for several reasons. Tiffin, already has a skate park which needs remodeling and life brought back into it. Tiffin has the ideal demographics for a skate park, with a population of almost 18,000 and the average income is $39,000 which can support the upkeep of upgrading the current skate park. The current skate park is located in Highland Park at 686 S Sandusky St, Tiffin, OH 44883
As skate parks continue to grow in popularity, the demand for grants programs such as the Tony Hawk Foundation far exceed the available resources. The Tony Hawk Foundation has as many as 450 applications in a single year, with the vast majority requesting the maximum $25,000 grant. Renovating the current skate park in Tiffin will allow for the city to request for less than the maximum grant.
How Tiffin skate park can qualify:
- Designed and built from concrete
- Is located in a relatively low-income area with a high population of “at-risk” youth.
- Has a mix of street obstacles (rails, ledges, stairs, etc.)
- Doesn't require skaters or parents to sign waivers.
- Is open during daylight hours, 365 days a year.
- Doesn't charge and entrance fee
Tiffin Demographics:
Total Population: ~17,739
Men-8,519 Women-9,220
Median resident age: 34.2 years
Median household income: $39,057
Per capita income: $19,960
Median house value: $96,184
Median gross rent: $671
In all of the categories above, Tiffin ranks under the median for cities in Ohio making it the ideal city to receive funding from Tony Hawk's program.
APPLY HERE: Tony Hawk Funding Application
References:
http://tonyhawkfoundation.org/grant-application/
Tiffin, Ohio (OH 44883) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/city/Tiffin-Ohio.html