The Father Marinaro Skatepark committee is raising money to renovate a patchwork facility in hopes of building community spirit and keeping children away from drugs and out of trouble.

This year the committee is applying for a $25,000 grant through the Tony Hawk Foundation and is meeting with city council Tuesday to discuss its plans.

“This year, we really want to get it going,” said Kelly Ruby, one of the committee members. “With the spring coming, we're starting to get some momentum.”

As it stands today, the park is a mismatch of wooden ramps that the committee has been repairing and renovating, but skatepark director Eric Mahler has grand plans.

“If we get the grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation, they only do concrete parks, so most of this will have to go,” he said.

Along with the grant, the rest of the money will be raised through fundraisers and merchandise sales.

“We're selling T-shirts, we're planning fundraisers, maybe spaghetti dinners,” he said. “This July we're also having an event at the park,” Mahler said.

Sales and organizing are almost entirely done on the group's Facebook page: FR. Marinaro Skate Park.

When not raising money, the group cleans the park, repairs ramps and paints over graffiti.

“We had a great cleaning day last fall,” Ruby said.

The skatepark had volunteers from schools and local organizations work to remove leaves and litter.

Three years ago, Ruby first got involved through a similar event.

“I always make my kids do one project a year to better their community,” she said. “One year we came down here to help.”

Ruby said the skateboarders showed her and her family the park and how much goes into the seemingly simple ramps and rails.

“They're good guys,” she said. “They taught me all about angles and how to make ramps,” she said.

Ruby, who is raising her grandchildren, said community service is good for children and gives them a sense of responsibility for themselves and their community.

“There's nothing for the kids in Butler,” Ruby said. “The pool went away. Inner city baseball went away. What do you do when there's nothing to do? You get in trouble.”

Mahler said the rest of the committee and the skateboarders agree; the park is a place for skating and community.

“We're just trying to help the community,” he said. “Skateboarders get a bad rap as hooligans but they're not.”

Chris Jolly, one of the group's longtime members and someone who helped start the park, has a clear anti-drug message painted on the bottom of his board.

The impetus for this park came when Mahler and his friends first discovered skateboarding.

He started in 1978, when the sport was still in its infancy. Technological advancements were rapidly improving the equipment, and skateparks were starting to be built in California.

Mahler said he and his friends would skate under the Main Street bridge, and that's when a park petition was first circulated.

“We first started petitioning for this park in the '80s,” he said. “I just want to see it through.”

The group is attending the city council meeting Tuesday to discuss plans.

Mahler is inviting anyone interested to come to the meeting.