The first project of the Scotty Lapp Foundation, we endeavor to promote and help build a skatepark in North Lake Tahoe that is a safe place for individuals and groups to challenge themselves, to encourage and be encouraged, and to set and achieve their own goals while learning to manage risk along the way.
Skateparks can support hundreds of kids that might have nowhere else to go. It’s a place where people build healthy habits like self-directed exercise and creative expression, where people learn how to persevere and the value of persistence. It is a place to experience accomplishment and build confidence, is an attractive, accessible, and safe recreational facility for all, and a welcoming gathering space for skaters, families, and the entire community.

Scotty Lapp Memorial Skatepark

Skate Park Blueprint

SK8:

TTUSD’s unanimous Board of Directors Approval!

At the May 15th TTUSD Board of Education meeting, the TTUSD’s Board of Directors voted (unanimously) to authorize district staff to work on an agreement with Tahoe City Public Utility District to change the use of the existing dog park located at 211 Grove Street, Tahoe City, CA, to a community skate park! We are so excited to continue our goal to develop a public skate park for the North Lake Tahoe communities – an inclusive, accessible, community-minded, and safe space for all.

Tahoe City, CA

We are currently working with the TTUSD and Tahoe City Public Utility District to change the use of the existing dog park located at 211 Grove Street, Tahoe City, CA, into a community skate park.
 

FAQs

Why is there is a need in North Lake Tahoe | Tahoe City?

North Lake Tahoe | Tahoe City needs a place for the athletic people of our community to recreate what isn’t on a mountain, in the lake, and doesn’t require a considerable investment of equipment to participate. People of all ages and backgrounds should have a local, legal, and safe place to gather and connect to their shared love of the sport. The closest skatepark to Tahoe City is Incline or Truckee, which can be a 45-minute drive for some. A skatepark accessible to our local bike paths, pedestrian traffic, and bus routes would be invaluable to our community.

Why are skateparks valuable?

A skatepark would give the youth of our community a place to go and provide them with a sense of belonging. Research shows that the communities that form at Skateparks help youth build connections that benefit their social and emotional well-being. Building a place to skate would show them our community cares and that we value our youth and the sport they love. However, skateparks are not just for youth; there are several members of our community, young and old, who skate and have expressed a great desire to make this park a reality.

Why now?

There is momentum in our community. The wonderful people of this community want to help and see his dream come true. Doing for others and making others happy was something Scotty loved, and this skatepark would make it come full circle.

Who are we working with to make this happen?

Leaders from Placer County and our local Public Utility Districts, local businesses, and community members.

History and fundraising.

From mid-February 2022 to date, we have raised over $750,000. Depending on the size of the park we can build (depending on the land chosen by PUD and county), we will need to raise a total of $1,000,000.

What’s ahead?

LOTS of fundraising and continued work with County and PUD leaders to find a piece of land that will work.

Skateboarding encourages resilience.

The nature of skateboarding requires skaters to learn on their own and develop their own strategies to succeed. Skaters frequently perform a trick hundreds of times over long periods before developing proficiency or experiencing reward for the efforts. Skaters in the study reported that they apply these lessons of resilience to their lives outside of skateboarding. (University of Southern California - Beyond The Board Study.

Skateboarding is the third most commonly reported interest for high school students.

(24% of girls, and 17% of boys). (Aspen Institute National Student Survey Analysis 2021)

There are 8.8 million skateboarders in the united states.

Up 34% from 2019. This does not account for the many other skatepark users: BMX riders, roller/quad skaters, inline skaters, Wheelchair Motocross riders (WCMX), scooter riders and more. (Sports & Fitness Industry Association 2021 Single Sport Report on Skateboarding) The Skatepark Project has seen a 700% increase in skatepark project support requests from advocates.

Time outdoors spent in parks and open spaces engages children.

in informal, experiential learning through play and shared experiences with peers, thereby, laying the foundation for effective formal education. (NRPA - Children in Nature)

Skateboarding improves mental health.

A recent study from The Skatepark Project and USC revealed that 76% of people skate to have fun, and 62% skate to get away from stress. (University of Southern California - Beyond The Board Study). Researchers found that, on average, a person has 3.4 poor mental health days per month. But among those who exercise, the number of poor mental health days dropped by more than 40 percent. (Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1·2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross-sectional study)