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Emotion and gratitude flowed through the opening ceremony of Isaac Riehl Memorial Skatepark Monday. Hundreds of spectators, skateboarders and BMX riders crowded around the concrete park in Marlene Stewart Streit Park to remember longboarder Isaac Riehl and test the park runs. The soft opening was called the Riehl Reveal. An official opening will be held in the spring. Isaac Riehl, a Grade 9 student at E.L. Crossley Secondary School died after he was hit by a car while longboarding on Foss Rd. in the fall of 2012. “This has become a place of peace,” said his mother Bonita Riehl who has visited the park every day during its construction. “I have come to feel Isaac here. His spirit lives on. We’re thankful to the community.” Isaac’s father Ted Riehl
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Isaac Riehl’s family, father Ted, brother Jacob and mother Bonita thank the community at the opening of the Isaac Riehl Memorial Skate Park. Wayne Campbell/Voice Photo said he was so proud of his son for inspiring those who knew him and the effort to build the park. He thanked the community “for ad xcitement for years to come. Soon after Isaac’s death, Crossley students spurred on my Mariah Bunz along with Mick Loscavo and Reese Ashbee began a fundraising drive to build a long-desired skateboard
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Riehl Reveal jump starts skate park BY WAYNE CAMPBELL
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park. They organized an online campaign to win a $150,000 grant from a national Aviva Community Fund. Town council agreed to contribute matching donations, $10,000 came from the Mayor’s Annual Gala, 10year-old Sam Reynolds designed and sold $5,200 worth of T-shirts. There were about 90 do-
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nations from individuals, businesses, schools and clubs to the more than $400,000 skatepark. The town matched donations to construct the park. Mayor Dave Augustyn, acting as master of ceremonies, said the opening turn a tragedy into something positive and it turned the dream of a skatepark into a reality. For years, young people
in the community have promoted the idea. Some even built an illegal skatepark in Fenwick’s Centennial Park. Speakers during the Riehl Reveal included: the three students, Bunz, Loscavo and Ashbee who assisted in planning the park; Ian Foo of the Aviva Community Fund; Bill Gurney of New Line Skateparks Inc whose company built it; and the Riehl family. Foo said the park shows what the Aviva Community fund is all about while Gurney said it was a privilege to work with the town on this special project. E.L. Crossley band’s drum line, which included Isaac’s brother Jacob Riehl beat in the unveiling of the park’s sign. During the evening the Pelham Active Transportation Committee handed out about 500 reflector safety lights for skateboarders, longboarders and bikeriders to wear on their clothing traveling to and from the skatepark, said committee chair Bea Clark.
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