Gresham Skateworld, established in 1974, was the first of its kind in Oregon, and now the last to close. Rise Church purchased the building in a private, off-market transaction and plan to renovate it into a church facility for their congregation. They will not be keeping the rink.

Generations of Gresham & Portland youth have grown up with this safe haven, a place for wholesome, memory-making fun. It is important to our identity as a community, and as a community, we need to take seriously what kind of life will be left for the youth of the area once it's gone. What are our values? Do we value public spaces and their power to bring people together? Do we value the quality of our youth's lives and their opportunities to have screen-free, supervised, active, indoor fun?

Skateworld represents great value to the community and needs to continue to exist as a skating rink. We ask that Rise Church build their church elsewhere and put the property on the open market so a buyer who will refurbish it can be found.

On the Rise Webpage you can submit a "prayer request" at the bottom of the page, if you'd like to communicate to the church how much Skateworld means to you, that's a perfect place to start. Please make sure your comments are kind, constructive and civil. This petition does not condone harassment of any kind: https://rise.cc/

My article in the Gresham Outlook on the subject: https://pamplinmedia.com/go/43-opinion/409624-308228-gresham-kids-and-community-need-the-refuge-of-skate-world?wallit_nosession=1

Article:

Skate World has provided a safe, enriching atmosphere for the community's adolescents for generations. To this day, it's a refuge for Gresham's more vulnerable kids, a place they can go to feel they belong and relieve the stress they carry from problems at home.

Manager Josh Bird emphasized Skate World's long-term, positive impact on the community by saying, "We've had a lot of foster families come in here over the years and when you take kids that have had a harder life and get them around kids their age, you get friendships and bonds made. It makes them feel a little more at home, they have somewhere they can go and feel part of something. We've had a lot of those kids come back and say, 'You know if it weren't for this place I might have run away from my foster home. But this place made me want to stay.'"

Simply put, Skate World provides an outstanding community service; we need it, and Gresham is better for it. The beloved, however grimy, skate rink has been purchased by Rise City Church, which plans to renovate it into a church facility for their congregation.

I ask that Rise City Church reconsider its decision and put the building on the market so a buyer who will actually refurbish the rink can be found. Give the community a chance to come together and purchase the property or find investors who will if we must.

Rise church has a large congregation, whose donated money goes untaxed. They have options as far as where they can build their church.

Bennie Thompson, Skate World employee for four years, does not have another option for a skate rink near his house open 365 days a year.

"Personally, I think they're choosing the wrong area. They're taking a lot. It may not look like a lot, but they're taking a lot. People come here when they're feeling down... this is home." And Marta Bunos doesn't have another option for a safe, indoor facility to take her children where they can be active, social and most importantly, screen-free. "We need to have more consideration for the children and their futures. They need a place like this."

Churches are supposed to be pro-community, which means the entire community, not just their own. If they won't consider putting the rink on the market, Mandy Littrell has another idea. "Maybe we could ask the church? Pray that maybe they would be willing to keep this as a community center and keep the rink here for what it is? It's a legend. I mean it can be owned by the church, but can it still serve this purpose? I'd still come. I don't want to see this end."

We're asking Rise Church, some of us are even praying, please think of the rest of us. Is there a better way?

Katelyn Convery is a Sam Barlow High and University of Oregon graduate, accomplished singer-songwriter, Realtor and investor, and owns a general contracting company. IG@katelynconverymusic