ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Aaron Costa has been in the skate shop business since 1994 but Krudco Skate Shop has only been on Mount Hope Avenue for the last two years.

“We moved over here to this area for the skatepark and to serve the community that’s going to be going to the skatepark and that skates downtown as well,” Costa said. 

Aaron was part of the original nonprofit that sparked the idea for the park.

“We laid the groundwork and we stepped back.”

And now its growth has also helped grow his business. 

“The amount of families and stuff that come in now has gone up, the amount of kids and young kids, and beginners, you know has gone up plus some of the vets and stuff,” said Costa. 

The project has been in the works for over a decade. With the success of phase one of the park’s construction, phase two will focus on expansion. 

“The whole thing we wanted it built at once, obviously, that’s the best way to do any project because once you start breaking it into parts you have issues with potentially not getting it finished,” he said. “So we wanted the whole thing built all at once but we knew the money wasn’t there; the support for the money wasn’t there either.”

But now there is both, with the City of Rochester announcing a $3 million grant in phase two of the park’s construction. 

“Onto this last year, the rest of the money starts funneling through, we have designs going out, the city sees the success of the skatepark, you know the new administration coming into it even sees the success of the skatepark,” Costa said. 

Making him believe that the vision may finally become reality.

“The $3 million that they’re throwing for phase two should potentially finish phase two and maybe into phase three,” he said. 

Changing the game not only for his business, but his passion.

“I don’t have to worry about getting kicked out or anything like that or if I am allowed or if there will be people here. So the park provides a sense of security for that,” said Costa. 

To him, making the price of the park well worth it

“The skatepark has benefitted the area community greatly as far as bringing people into the city, giving kids a place to go that’s free. It doesn’t cost them a single thing and provides hours and hours of entertainment.”