From Skateboarding to Snowboarding: Jake Blauvelt Leads Charge for Waterbury Center Skatepark

Growing up in the late 90’s in Vermont, you didn’t have much choice for where you were going to skateboard. You could skate the DIY wooden park in an empty parking lot or at the select few businesses around town that had decent curbs where you would inevitably get kicked out of before too long.

DIYs and Splinters

The DIY parks were all made of wood, and after a couple rugged Vermont winters, the structures would wither away to rusty nails and coping and have to be scrapped all together to negate the real threat of tetanus and some of the worst splinters you could ever imagine.

There were no legit skateparks in the area, and certainly no concrete parks like the ones popping up everywhere these days. The skate scene in Vermont has always been strong, but not that well supported or fostered.

See Where Skateboarding Takes You

Skateboarding, and snowboarding in particular, have given me so much over the years. They’ve allowed me to travel the world, experience different cultures, meet new people and learn so many things that a classroom could have never taught me.

Who would have thought that a piece of wood with wheels underneath it would lead to another piece of wood with edges made for sliding down snow and mountains, which would lead to a career of basically having fun while traveling the world and promoting product?

I am more and more grateful as the years go on for what board sports have given me, and I want to use the platform I have created to give other kids the opportunity to start riding sideways a shot and see where it takes them.

A Skatepark for Waterbury

For the past 4 years, a small group of volunteers and myself have been fundraising, strategizing, and jumping through all the necessary hoops in order to be granted the space to construct a state-of-the-art concrete skatepark at Hope Davey Park in Waterbury Center, VT — the town I grew up in, and where I now live with my wife and three young kids.

The old wooden park that was in its place lasted for over a decade, which had to be some kind of a record for a Vermont wooden skatepark, but finally had to be torn down last fall due to the growing safety issues that were literally popping up everywhere on the ramps.

The old park was loved by the tight knit local community, as well as people from all over the central and northern Vermont area. Basically, you build it, and they will come, and with a well-built concrete park, they will be coming for generations.

The Catalyst

Skateboarding isn’t just for the outcasts like once believed, although they’re still welcome. It’s an Olympic sport for top notch athletes, the local cruiser who just wants to have a good time, and everyone in between.

For many, having a local skatepark is the catalyst for getting outside, socializing and exercising, when the other option might very well be sitting and playing video games all day. You can literally change a kid’s life by giving them the opportunity to ride sideways, and I truly believe that more skateparks in our communities will make them stronger, healthier and more vibrant.

As of August 2024, we have raised $120K for the Waterbury Center Skatepark, all through grass roots fundraising and a couple generous donors; we need an additional $100K in order to stay on track and break ground by next summer. We have gained some serious momentum the last couple months on the fundraising front and feel our goal is attainable by summer ’25.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you have any interest in learning more about the park and donation opportunities, please go to www.waterburyskateparkvt.org for more information.

Thank you,

Jake Blauvelt

About the Author

Jake Blauvelt is a highly respected and accomplished snowboarder with a career spanning 16 years. He is also our hometown hero, born and raised in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where he’s now raising his own children.