KENNESAW - Swift Cantrell Skate Park Committee member Zak Cochran remembers being chased away by police for skateboarding in prohibited areas.

Growing up in Cobb County, Cochran said he can empathize with the growing number of skateboarders in the area with no place to skate.

To fill the void, the committee is leading a grassroots effort to build a skate park at Swift-Cantrell Park, a new park in Kennesaw.

In their first major fundraising push, the committee is sponsoring "The Grind," an art exhibit and auction at Foundation One Gallery in Atlanta. The auction and exhibit features more than 60 skateboards decorated by nationally recognized artists.

The opening reception and auction is Dec. 8 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The exhibit will be open until Dec. 22.

Online bidding for the skateboards has already opened, with each board's starting bid set at $100.

Cochran said the idea for the exhibit came when they were looking for interesting ways to raise money. He said they put together a "wish list" of potential artists.

"We really didn't expect anyone to return the call," he said. "Before long, we had a big list of these amazing artists."

Some of the artists who created boards include Todd McFarlane, the creator of the comic Spawn; Shepard Fairey, a street artist; and Paul Frank, a fashion designer.

With many of the artists featured in the exhibit having a solid fan base, Cochran said they're hoping to raise $10,000 to $12,000.

Committee members say the construction of the skate park is estimated to cost around $1 million to $1.2 million, depending on design.

Cochran, along with fellow committee members Steve Welsh and Chairman Adam Wesolowski, said many in the community are excited about the possibility of the skate park and the support the exhibit will bring.

All said they plan to bid on a couple of boards, especially Cochran, who has stored the boards at his house.

Wesolowski said the buzz generated by many of the participating artist is exciting.

"Skateboarding and art go hand and hand," he said. "The need is here now. The need was here eight years ago."

Wesolowski said, according to the Sporting Good Manufacturer's Association, there are over 13 million skateboarders in the United States in 2007, with 93.7 percent of those under the age of 24.

"It's a big, unmet need," Cochran said. "Cobb is one of the only counties in the metro area without a place kids can go legally to skate."

Gwinnett County has several skate parks. There is also one in Dunwoody in Dekalb County and Canton in Cherokee.

Welsh said the growing popularity of skate boarding is fueled by the sport's acceptance in mainstream media with events like X-Games.

"It's now acceptable as an alternative to traditional sports," he said.

At their Nov. 19 meeting, the Kennesaw City Council approved the Skate Park committee's recommendation for New Line Skateparks Incorporated, based in Vancouver, British Columbia to design the future park.

Cochran said having a design will be beneficial in getting corporate and government donations because now they have a concrete thing to show potential donors, not just a good idea.

"Once people see what they can actually skate, the want to get more involved," he said.

He also said New Line plans to have two public meetings for the skaters of the community to give their input on the design of the park.

The committee is also selling bricks that can be engraved for $100.

"We're looking to build a skateable feature that people can put their name on," Welsh said.

The skate park is included in the master plan for Swift-Cantrell Park, but funding for the project was not included in the almost-complete phase 1. Purchase of the 42-acre park on Old Highway 41 and funding for phase 1 projects came from a $12 million parks bond approved by Kennesaw residents in September 2004.

First phase projects include 1.5 miles of asphalt trail, picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, entry plaza, perimeter fencing, infrastructure, site preparation, parking and landscaping.

Also included in Swift-Cantrell's master plan - an estimated $38 million project - is a recreation building with two basketball courts and an indoor walking track, an outdoor amphitheatre and an aquatic center.

With the $38 million price tag, the additional projects will be installed in phases as funding becomes available.

On Tuesday, construction crews were at the park installing the playground equipment and landscaping.

The park is expected to open in mid-December, but several residents are already taking advantage of the park's walking track.

ahungerford@mdjonline.com

Online:

To bid on a board in the exhibit:

www.foundationonegallery.com

Web site for the Skate Park Committee:

www.kennesawskatepark.com

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