The sun’s coming out, the trees are starting to bloom so that means it’s time to grab your board and hit the parks! Push To Start Skateboarding is a program based in New Haven, specifically in the Newhallville neighborhood. Founder and veteran skateboarder, Steve Roberts is also a ‘Ville’ native and created this program to make skateboarding more accessible to kids and provide more well-rounded representation of the sport. I know your next questions may be: how much are the lessons and do they need their own equipment? These lessons are FREE and if your child doesn’t have their own, the program does have helmets and boards on hand to use. The lessons begin at the Stetson Branch Library located on Dixwell Ave so participants can meet each other and their instructors and learn the basics before heading over to Scantlebury Park to practice. They meet every Saturday and the first lesson took place this past weekend on April 8th. This program is sponsored by the New Haven Free Public Library in partnership with the program.
If you or anyone you know has gently used gear such as boards, helmets, knee and elbow pads, Push To Start is always accepting donations. They can be dropped off at the Stetson Library branch location on Dixwell Ave.