<div>After a 6 year battle with cancer and chemotherapy, our brother and friend, Wesley Ackley transcended the earthly realm on <a href="https://riverheadlocal.com/2023/01/27/wesley-dean-ackley-27/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">January 24th</a> of 2023. Surgery had left Wes paralyzed from the waist down, but his strength and will fueled his recovery, allowing him to skateboard once again while the cancer was in remission. He would say "I cant feel my feet," but was soon back to beating me in games of S.K.A.T.E – a game where skaters set and repeat each other's tricks. He even <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj8p22epfyD/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">filmed tricks for a skate video</a> during that short timeframe, which is no easy feat to begin with. To preserve Wes's legacy, we are <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/teen-takes-on-riverhead-town-over-skateboarding-fee-j20503" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">continuing his work</a> advocating for the beloved skatepark we grew up skating at together, and raising funds to rebuild it. When we were kids in 2010, Wes took on the town's decision to charge skaters a yearly fee of $100, overturning that decision and eventually making the park free for everyone.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684677913587465_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Unfortunately, the skatepark has faced additional challenges. In 2016, <a href="https://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2016/07/75333/riverhead-town-shrinks-skate-park-adding-pickleball-court/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">much of the skatepark's ramps were removed</a> to make room for pickleball courts <strong>that were never built</strong>. The resulting swath of vacant cement has sat unused since. Wes, his brother Jake, our friends, and I would muse about the park in its heyday, imagining ways to revitalize our beloved skatepark. Now that the park is <a href="https://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2023/02/114692/town-board-supports-bid-to-rename-skate-park-in-memory-of-wesley-ackley/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">being renamed in honor of Wes</a>, it is the perfect time to begin raising funds for this project.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684768240762230_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div>Above: Wes skating Wesley Dean Ackley Skatepark (formerly Riverhead Skatepark) in 2011. Photo by Todd Andrychowski
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>With this project, we can do something truly amazing, building a new park for all skill levels. The current pre-fabricated ramps are an uninspired design that caters to upper and mid-level skatepark users. Many of the park's attendees are youngsters, and the current design does not foster a learning environment. Additionally, using cement ramps we would avoid exorbitant upkeep costs. The town would have paid a staggering $120,000 in repairs on the outdated wooden ramps before deciding to remove them instead. Our fundraising will afford us a timeless solution, increasing tourism, and helping to create booming business opportunities. For proof, look at the town of Montauk's newly renovated skatepark which has fueled new, prosperous businesses since its opening less than a year ago.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We have deep gratitude for your attention to this matter, and appreciate any donations toward this noble cause.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769577454185_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Short Version:</strong> Wesley Ackley passed away after a 6 year battle with cancer. His hometown skatepark which he helped save with his activism is being renamed "Wesley Dean Ackley Skatepark." After much of the ramps were removed in 2016 due to their state of disrepair, Wes his friends always spoke of the possibilities that can happen to replace the old ramps. We are raising funds to get a new park built as soon as possible, starting with the empty space where the ramps used to be.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Here are some videos Wes and I made in Riverhead over a decade ago:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div class="youtube-replace"><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Additional Photos:
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769637886079_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769668453522_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769684741010_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_168476969986111_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769714972791_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769732509482_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769746441404_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_1684769758362913_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_168476977471608_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/73012033_168476978671390_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>

Adam Schwartz

Dianne Spillett

Jacquelyn Mansfield

Brett Budris

Taylor Talmage

Susan Crinnion

Thomas Bottone

Alfred Iloreta

Alexis Atai

Alain Zilkha

Alice Nicolai

Nikki Coraci

JJ Veronis

Jessica Carbone

Eric Tercasio

Li Skate Communiry At Bluepoint Brewpub

Anonymous

Savanna Lynch

LI Skate Community At Bluepoint Brewpub

Donate to rebuild Wesley Dean Ackley Skatepark

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Donate to rebuild Wesley Dean Ackley Skatepark

Still $175,520 to go. Help us build momentum.