Nearly 70% of youth in Vermont reported that the COVID-19 pandemic made their anxiety/worry, mood, or loneliness "a little" or "a lot" worse. (2020 VT Youth Planet Survey). According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, outdoor play activities is an effective tool to help teenagers cope with major stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, outdoor recreation is linked to income; only 27.5 percent of children from homes with incomes under $25,000 a year play sports compared to the 45.5 percent of kids from homes with incomes greater than $100,000 a year. (Aspen Institute) But there is a solution. Skateboarding.

Skateboarding is the third least expensive sport. (Aspen Institute/Utah State University 2019 National Youth Sports Survey) Skateparks foster a strong sense of community, build relationships among kids and families and help keep our children active and healthy in a safe, secure environment.

If you are interested in improving the mental and physical health of our youth, you are intent on improving our community more broadly, or miss your own rolling days please join The Middlebury Skatepark Coalition. We are a thoughtful and committed group of local citizens working towards improving the lives of Addison Central residents. If you are an advocate of outdoor recreation we'd love to see you at our upcoming informational meeting Friday, 4/28 from 5-6:30pm at the Ilsley Library Community Room as we explore ways to make a Middlebury skatepark a reality.