Austin Lee, 14, of the St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Board hopes Thursday's fundraiser for St. Cloud's skate plaza will be more than a way to raise money — it will be a way to create unity.

"It's not just for skateboarders," said Melissa Ruebl, who assisted Lee with setting up the Skate Unity event. "Now we've got artists involved."

Skate Unity will feature blank skateboard decks painted by area artists up for silent auction from 5-8 p.m. at the Red Carpet Event Center. The Receders, a local band that features music from the past and present, will perform from 8-11 p.m. The event is open to all ages until 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

"It's not just about skateboarding. It's just what the proceeds go to," Lee said.

Community members can take a look at 3D graphic images from Site Design Group Inc. of the proposed plan by Mike Chau for the skate plaza.

A skate plaza is different from a skate park because it refers to a landscaped park space that has skateable features such as stairs and benches built into the design.

"We pretty much have everything except the money," Lee said.

Based on the proposed size, the plaza compares with other similar skating facilities that have cost between $500,000 and $1 million.

There will be more than 30 painted skateboard decks in the auction painted mostly by area college and high school students. One deck will be autographed by the Youth Shelter Supply skate team.

"Whatever artists want to paint is what's on them," Ruebl said. Ruebl works for the Youth Shelter Supply skateboard and snowboard shop. "From what I've seen so far, they're all really good."

This is the fourth fundraising event for the skate plaza. Ruebl said she hopes to make this an annual event.