Faced with the prospect of losing skate time at the Bellevue Skatepark, Bellevue parent Brian Charest decided to act, creating a fundraiser to keep the park as open and vibrant as the community had come to expect.

Charest, who has two sons who use the park and its skate camps, said the possibility of losing programs at the park wasn’t one he wanted to consider.

“I heard about the funding shortfalls, and I thought that someone needed to keep the spring and summer programs running,” said Charest, who also skates. “I consider myself a friend of the Bellevue Skatepark: someone who thinks skateboarding can have really positive effects on kids.”

His fundraiser on GoFundMe.com, “Fully Fund Bellevue Skate Park” has raised several hundred dollars so far and is seeking a total of $10,000.

Bellevue Skatepark is actually composed of two parks, an indoor and outdoor park, at Highland Community Center along Bel-Red Road in north Bellevue. It offers skate camps for children between the ages of 4 and 16, with private skate lessons offered for a fee.

Charest also mentioned the staff at the park, saying they have gone above and beyond to provide an excellent service to skaters of all ages.

Joe Moorman, a recreation coordinator for the skatepark, has been with the city of Bellevue since 1994, when the park opened. It is the oldest indoor skatepark on the West Coast.

He said that due to some “shifts in the budget,” the city cut some programs including certain skate camps for kids. But the park was never in danger of being shut down.

“The city has actually been very supportive,” Moorman said. “It has allowed us to keep things in the park fresh and exciting.”

Every several years, major renovations on the indoor park change some aspects inside the park such as new ramps and pipes. Local artists plaster the walls with huge murals. Moorman and city staff run the park, while skaters can volunteer to make smaller renovations to keep the park looking nice.

Cathy VonWald, enterprise manager for Bellevue Parks and Recreation, said the friendly, welcoming atmosphere has made the Bellevue Skatepark a safe destination for 22 years.

“The level of staff supervision has made the safety of the park a huge draw,” she said. “The park is very fortunate to have the support of the community.”

VonWald said it is not unusual to have private funding help out popular parks programs.

With eight community centers, Bellevue consistently ranks parks and recreation very highly, VonWald said. The skatepark is just one piece of that.

“It’s a really safe environment,” Moorman said. “We don’t allow baloney here.”

A pending budget shortfall would have reduced programs, Charest feared. And in attempting to raise $10,000, programs like The Magic Skate Bus, Ladies Night and Skaters in the Woods would be able to continue.

During the spring and summer, two week-long classes provide neophytes a chance to learn to board.

“This is for all ages,” Moorman said. “A lot of parks can be intimidating. This one is a great place to learn.”

Newbies can get a free 10-minute lesson from the skilled park staff, many of whom learned to skate on the very same concrete. Boards and helmets are for rent as well. Every Tuesday is Ladies Night, which is intended to allow girls and women to join and learn what is traditionally a male-dominated sport.

Funds raised on GoFundMe will go directly to the skatepark’s donation account, which Moorman oversees.

On Aug. 13, the park will play host to EZ Rocks: Skate for the Cure, an event in honor of Ethan Zakes. Zakes (EZ) died from Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) in 2011 at the age of 10. ALD affects one in 17,000 boys and can be treated if screened for at birth. The Ethan Zakes Foundation and EZ Rocks raise money to screen Washington’s newborns for the disease.

For Charest, a father and educator, the park represents more than just some concrete ramps and pipes.

“The indoor skate park is a safe places for young people to pursue their passion, stay fit and be a part of the larger community of skateboarders.”