Smooth blacktop, steel ramps and open space - a skateboarder's dream and soon reality in Ogden.

The Ogden Skate Park committee will host its first Skate Jam on Sunday, June 3 from noon to 6:30 p.m. at Pineway Ponds Park. The event will be a fundraiser for the Skate Park and will be held on the new 15,000 square foot blacktop surface that will be the future skate park.

Krudco Skates and Hard Pact Boardgear, two skating stores from Rochester, are bringing ramps and other equipment, as well as skating teams for competitions and demonstrations.

The event also features On Site Facilities, a live band from Rochester, as well as smaller local bands. Barton's Hots will sell refreshments with a portion of the proceeds donated to the project. Raffles and give aways will occur throughout the day.

Volunteers from the community as well as children from age 7 to 17 have worked hard for the past 14 months raising money for the park, which is intended to be a safe place for Ogden youth to skate.

Sue Marino, public relations chairperson for the Ogden Skate Park Committee, said that the projected cost for the project is $40,000. So far donations of $21,000 cash, as well as non-cash donations have been received.

The Sperandio Family Foundation, which formerly owned Sporting Dog Specialties, started off donations with a check for $5,000 and a challenge to others in the community to also donate.

Marino says all of the local service organizations - The Rotary Club, The Lions Club, The Kiwanis Club and The Masons have donated money.

Bill Ewsuk, a local Rotarian, arranged for Dolomite Inc. to give 920 tons of stone and for Villager Construction in Fairport to loan a steam roller and bulldozer for a three-and-a-half week period with delivery. Ewsuk operated the machinery himself. Ruston Paving put blacktop on the area, giving a $3,000 discount. Radik Construction (Dick Turner) is building the ramps and other equipment, saving 50 percent on those pieces. The ramps are made of welded steel and will be brought to the site by crane on Thursday or Friday after Memorial Day. In addition, the Ogden Highway and Recreation Department provided $5,000 and Marino said there are numerous sustaining gifts in addition to these.

Marino feels another $15,000 is needed. To maintain the park, an on-going fundraiser - bottle and can collection boxes - are placed throughout the village.