A month after the trials and tribulations of establishing a park for skateboarders in Grove City drove her to tears and on the verge of quitting, Vicki Chutz was back before borough council pushing the project.

Mrs. Chutz -- backed up by about 25 skateboarders and a few parents -- told council there’s widespread support to make the parking lot on Erie Street next to the former YMCA a permanent skate park. She also provided an update of her efforts to make That Skate Park Association a nonprofit organization.

Last month, council closed the skate park for liability reasons after Mrs. Chutz told them about kids using the park after hours, not cooperating with her and skating on unsafe park ramps. Council told Mrs. Chutz she would need to set up a nonprofit organization with a board of directors to manage the park.

Although council’s action angered some, it seems to have reignited support for the park.

A few more adults stepped forward to help Mrs. Chutz organize a Chinese auction and concert to raise funds for the park. The event made $600. Mrs. Chutz received a sizable donation from General Electric and financial support from community members. Many businesses showed support by donating items for the Chinese auction.

"We went to 100 businesses. I can count on one hand who turned us down," said Tonya Astala-Barlow, a parent who is helping the association.

J. Jarrett Whalen, a Mercer lawyer, offered his services to help the park secure nonprofit status.

But the effort has a way to go. Other than nonprofit status and "a stable board of directors," solicitor Tim Bonner said the park will also need to secure insurance, be supervised, have operating hours and safe ramps.

In the meantime, skaters have few places to skate in town. Business and property owners regularly call police on skateboarders and council said skateboarding tricks wouldn’t be tolerated in Grove City Memorial Park.

Council members explained that groups must have their own insurance to use the park. However, individuals using the park for recreation are covered under the borough’s policy.

Locomoting on a skateboard or inline skates on sidewalks is OK, Bonner said, as long as no tricks are involved. And "they can skate on any property where they have the permission of the owner or on their own property," he said.