Costumed Skateboarders Enjoy Ann Van Park's 'Hollyweird' Fundraiser

When Hillsborough Township converted an old parking lot at Ann Van Middlesworth Park to a skateboarding area in the late 1990s, local skateboarders found a place they could practice their sport.

That early enthusiasm never waned for a group of Hillsborough High School students who remain passionate about their sport—and are working to make the skateboarding park even better. In fact, an addition installed and paid for by local skateboarders doubling the size of the area is becoming a premier skateboard location in New Jersey, drawing boarders from across the state as well as Eastern Pennsylvania and New York.
 
Saturday, nearly 100 skateboarders came to join in the "Hollyweird" skateboarding and costume competition, organized by Manooga Skateboarding, an association of fans of the sport launched by five HHS grads, Justin Kraehenbuehl, Joe Carter, Jesse Boss, Matt Jedziniak and BJ Johnson.

"As kids, we never had this kind of community, it was kind of maybe a handful of us skating at the time," Jedziniak said.

But thanks to the improvements at the park—rails, ramps, half-pipes and more—installed by skateboarders themselves, the park is an area highlight, attracting participants year-round.

The Manooga Skateboarding group points out the difference between the first section opened by the township and the section built by skateboarders—the old parking lot's rough surface isn't conducive to riding, and only two or three obstacles are on the area.

Anxious to create something more usable in the township, skateboarders like the Manooga group and friends they've met through Hillsborough's Prime Skate Shop took on the task themselves, pouring the concrete pad and building their own obstacles.

In a democratic nod to the sport, skateboarders are welcome to install new obstacles on their own—which means visits offer fresh and surprising challenges.

Due to the obvious challenge of riding a skateboard in a costume, many of Saturday's riders chose simpler outfits, though a nun, escaped inmate and, of course, "Jason" from the "Friday the 13th" movie series could be seen gliding around the park.

Donations, food sales and sponsors—including Manooga Skateboarding (which is launching a line of skateboards and accessories), Prime Skate Shop, Mishka Clothing, Domestics Clothing, and Barracks Skatepark, in California—should help Saturday's "Hollyweird" event add to the work on the park.

Although one big project may take a while—Carter said the skateboarders would "greatly appreciate some lights, like the baseball fields," which would have to be installed by the township.