New skateparks will open in Upper Darby and Chester Township, fulfilling the wish of a suburban mother of three who lobbied to get more skateparks built in the county, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

Stacy Olkowski started a small nonprofit to help make the parks a reality.

On July 7, the Delco Skatepark Coalition gave a $4,000 donation to Chester Township to build a new, concrete 3,000-square-foot skatepark at Worrilow Park.

Another skatepark is in the works for Upper Darby.  

Delaware County boasts a half a million residents, but only has three small skateparks in Havertown, Radnor and Chichester.

Olkowski and the coalition has been working to get at least five new adaptive and inclusive skateparks.

“Whatever wheels you’re on — whether they are skateboards, or roller skates, or if you’re in a wheelchair — we want somebody to be able to experience the joy of being able to get out and ride,” Olkowski, of Media, said.

Upper Darby will partner with the coalition for a concrete skateboard park in the Observatory Hill recreation area.  

Upper Darby Mayor Barbarann Keffer welcomed the park as a way for kids to stay out of trouble and lead “healthy productive lives”.

Read more at WHYY about the mission to build more skateparks in the county.

Check out the most popular skateparks in the US in the 2020 video.