For over 13 years, Rocker Memorial Skatepark (RMSP) has worked toward a major expansion of the Truckee Skatepark. We know many of you have supported that vision for a long time — through donations, advocacy, and patience. We want to walk you through a change in direction, why we’re making it, and why we believe it actually gets a better skatepark built in Truckee, sooner.
The short version: we’re no longer pursuing the larger, standalone expansion. Instead, we’re partnering with the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District (TDRPD) to renovate and improve the existing skatepark at Truckee River Regional Park — and we’re closer to funded and buildable than we’ve ever been.
What’s changed?
Two things.
First, in September 2026 the Town of Truckee informed RMSP and TDRPD that staff believe this renovation can potentially move forward through a staff-level Zoning Clearance and grading permit — a meaningfully faster and simpler process than what the original expansion required.
Second, we’re starting with the budget instead of starting with the design. Most of the project’s resources are already identified, and we’re designing a skatepark to fit within them — not designing first and then scrambling to fund whatever it costs.
Is the project funded?
Mostly — but we still need help.
- ~$333,000 is currently held in a dedicated skatepark account with TDRPD, visible in the District’s regular public financial reporting. Every dollar donated to the skatepark is still there, still restricted to the skatepark, and still going toward getting it built.
- ~$39,000 is expected to be returned from TDPUD for equipment scoped for the previous project.
- $500,000 has been conditionally committed by a generous local donor.
- ~$125,000 previously awarded by the Truckee Tahoe Airport District is expected to be returned, since the project is changing direction.
Total: approximately $750,000 in current, expected, and conditionally committed resources.
Our goal is to keep the total renovation project under approximately $900,000 — which leaves a gap of roughly $100,000–$150,000 still needed, through cash contributions or in-kind construction value.
Compare that to the ~$2.5 million funding gap the original $3.3M+ project faced. This is a gap we can realistically close.
Why this approach is different
The original RMSP project was designed first, and grew into an approximately $3.3 million public construction project as design, engineering, and permitting requirements became clearer. A large share of that cost wasn’t skateable terrain at all — it was grading, drainage, roads, landscaping, accessibility, and other site and civil work. That scale created an extremely difficult fundraising challenge, and after 13 years, we’re applying what we’ve learned to a different approach:
Know what we can spend → design within that amount → close a manageable remaining gap → build it.
We’re putting a firm cap on design and construction costs so the project doesn’t grow beyond what we can realistically fund. Instead of asking “how much money do we need to build this design?” we’re asking “what’s the best skatepark we can build with the resources we can realistically secure?”
Can in-kind donations help?
Yes — and this is a meaningful way for local businesses to get involved. The remaining gap doesn’t have to be filled with cash alone. Construction partners may be able to contribute:
- Concrete and materials
- Excavation and grading
- Equipment
- Trucking and hauling
- Skilled labor
- Professional services
Every dollar of donated construction value is a dollar we don’t have to raise and spend.
Is there a final design?
Not yet. The drawing currently being shared is a preliminary vision of what may be possible. Final boundaries, size, layout, and features will depend on site constraints, the established budget, TDRPD coordination, and Town review.
What are we trying to build?
A comprehensive renovation that can:
- Replace aging skatepark features
- Create more usable skate terrain where feasible
- Improve beginner and progression opportunities
- Improve ADA accessibility and adaptive-use opportunities
- Serve a broad range of ages and ability levels
- Deliver meaningful improvements within a realistic budget
What happened to the money already raised?
It’s still here, still dedicated to the skatepark, and still working toward that goal. Skatepark construction funds remain held in a specific TDRPD account, reflected in the District’s public financial statements. Earlier RMSP funding also paid for professional design, engineering, environmental review, CEQA, and permitting work on the original project — investments that got us to where we are today and directly informed the strategy we’re pursuing now.
Does TDRPD support the project?
Yes. TDRPD’s adopted Comprehensive Master Plan specifically identifies expanding the skatepark as a recreation priority, recognizes RMSP as a partner in meeting that need, and identifies skatepark programs as a high-priority investment.
What happens next?
- Confirm site constraints
- Establish the design budget
- Develop the concept
- Review with TDRPD and the Town
- Finalize scope and cost
- Close the remaining funding gap
- Build
This sequencing is intentional — we want the design to respond to the site and the resources available from the very beginning, not the other way around.
Help Us Close the Gap
We’re no longer trying to raise millions of dollars for an open-ended project. We’re working to close an estimated $100,000–$150,000 gap through financial contributions and donated construction value.
If you or your business can contribute funding, concrete, materials, equipment, excavation, trucking, labor, or professional services, we want to hear from you.
After 13 years, we finally have a realistic, fully visible path to a finished skatepark — and we’d love your help closing the last piece.
Start with the resources. Design within them. Build what we can afford. That’s the path forward.
