Stony Point PAL Plans Events for Fun and for Skatepark Fund Raising

BY CHERYL SLAVIN

Over the winter the Stony Point Police Athletic League had been busy planning for its future, and now that warmer weather is here will be hosting a number of enjoyable community events which will also help to raise funds for its skate park project and other year round activities.

On Wednesday May 27 the PAL will hold its annual 300 Club fundraiser to benefit the skate park. 300 raffle tickets at $100 a piece are currently on sale, each offering the ticket holder a chance to win a cash prize of $10,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and two $500 third place winners. Each ticket also entitles the holder to food and open bar at the Patriot Hills Club House from 5 – 8 p.m.. Additional guests may attend for $30 each. The event was a smash success last year, raising thousands of dollars for the skate park.

Then, on Saturday June 20, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., the PAL along with the Stony Point Police Youth Bureau will be hosting a “Bike Safety Day and BMX Show” at the Charles S. Eccher (Lowlands) Park. The highlight of the day will be the BMX Show at 12 noon, presented by the Dialed Action Sports Team. The event will also feature bike safety tips, food, music, a bicycle raffle and other giveaways. Admission is free and all proceeds will go toward supporting PAL activities and the construction of the skate park.

In September the PAL will sponsor its Family Fun Day/Stony Point Fall Festival, an opportunity for the entire community to come out and enjoy a day of activities that will include vendors, various foods, kids events, rock climbing wall, bounce slide, music and more. As it did with its maiden voyage last year, the Family Fun Day will take place at Kirkbride Hall.

The PAL continues to work toward achieving its most ambitious project, the Stony Point Skate Park. In addition to the event fundraisers, the PAL has been selling hats and t-shirts in order to raise money and support for the park. Mike Ehlers, a skate park spokesman, also asserts that an RFQ for engineering and design plans will soon be issued.

A recent controversy erupted a few weeks ago when it appeared that a $75,000 grant secured by Senator Bill Larkin to fund both the town skate park and the town dog park was ultimately approved by the New York State Dormitory Authority for the dog park alone. As previously reported in the Rockland County Times, the Town Board responded to public outcry by reallocating $15,000 in town funds budgeted for the dog park to be used for the skate park. At that time Councilman Tom Basile had voiced concerns that by doing so the board had endangered the possibility of the dog park receiving the grant.

Since then the board has not publicly commented on its decision, and did not discuss it further at the most recent board meeting. Basile did tell the Rockland County Times that he is still actively working to ensure that the dog park grant, as well as another grant for the Pyngyp Schoolhouse restoration, will move forward.

He also states that he has been in communication with the PAL and intends to help seek other sources of revenue for the skate park once its budget has been established. The town has already donated the use of land near Vincent Clark Park. Even so, the estimated cost of the project is about $300,000, although some of that could be raised by in-kind donations of building materials or labor.

Any Stony Point resident may attend PAL meetings and volunteers are always welcome. For more information about meetings, events and fundraising activities, visit the website at stonypointpal.org or the facebook page “Stony Point PAL.”