Rocker Memorial Skatepark is forging ahead with plans for a 25,000-square-foot skate park, as funds continue to be raised for the project.

The nonprofit held their 6th annual Rally for Rocker fundraising event, a backcountry banked slalom snowboarding race. Each year the course is dug by hand by volunteers on Donner Summit. This year the race had 281 participants and raised over $20,000, the most money ever raised from the annual race, according to Colin Robinson, director of the Rocker Memorial Skatepark.

“Seeing a thousand people up on Donner Summit that all had to hike there, and drag every piece of equipment, and all having a good time was such an incredible display of community,” said Robinson.

---

---

To date Robinson said they’ve raised roughly $150,000 for the skatepark.

“It’s nowhere near the total cost of what we’ll need,” he said. “But with that much money we’re really pushing forward.”

---

---

Using ski runs as an analogy, Robinson said the current skatepark only offers a single intermediate blue run and lacks a variety of features for different skill levels. “It’s one of the most heavily used facilities in the entire park district and it’s becoming increasingly dangerous,” he said.

Similar to the Truckee Bike Park, Robinson said they’re looking to provide more progressive features in the park. The site for the new park is located directly across Estates Drive from the Truckee Skatepark which sits at 10695 Brockway Road.

On April 5, the nonprofit submitted official plans to the Truckee’s planning department for a comprehensive review. Once signed off by the town, they’ll submit land use and construction permits.

The skatepark is being developed as part of the Recreation Area Master Plan for the entire Truckee Regional Park. Other projects in the plan include the Ice Pavilion (See story, page 20) and a kids zone and involve the approval of three separate entities: the Truckee Donner Recreation and Parks District, Truckee Donner Public Utility District and the Town of Truckee. The whole plan has to be approved before construction can begin.

“Building the skatepark is simple,” he said. “The bigger challenge is working with the community on the entire recreation plan. There’s a lot of different entities involved.”

Among projects in the plan the skatepark is the furthest along in the planning process, he said.

“All of our work is mostly done now; it’s just getting the agencies that are affiliated with us to all work together,” said Robinson.

If the master plan is agreed upon this fall, Robinson said they can obtain the necessary permits and may be able to start construction in May 2020.

Hannah Jones is a reporter for the Sierra Sun. She can be reached at hjones@sierrasun.com or 530-550-2652.