Easthampton Skate Club launches crowdfunding campaign to expand at Eastworks
EASTHAMPTON — On the ground floor of Eastworks, nestled among art studios and clothing designers, Easthampton Skate Club provides a space for people of all ages and experience levels to develop their skateboarding skills and experiment with new tricks. Thanks to a fundraiser running through July 27, the skating experience in this unique space could get even better in the near future.
Easthampton Skate Club’s owner, Noah Halpern-McManus, opened the club last November when he saw a gap in indoor and youth skateboarding opportunities. He brought more than 20 years of skateboarding experience to Easthampton and used the knowledge he gained from running after-school skate programs in San Francisco to provide lessons, open skate sessions, birthday parties and more. Local youth in particular have begun frequenting the venue since its opening, as it provides a safe, judgment-free space to learn to skate.
“Opening up that world to a kid is really satisfying,” said Halpern-McManus. “They’ve come a long way already. It’s a lot of fun to see.”
Now, Halpern-McManus hopes to update the 2,700-square-foot indoor facility to meet the club’s growing popularity and provide a smoother experience for skaters and spectators alike.
Through the Biz-M-Power Grant program, funded through the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, Easthampton Skate Club could see several major improvements to its space. The grant program matches crowdfunding donations one to one, and the Skate Club is already halfway to its $10,890 goal.
