According to the Detroit News, Tony Hawk was on hand to celebrate the opening of Chandler Park Skatepark on Detroit’s east side this last Sunday.
The 15,000-square-foot park was developed under “The Skatepark Project” (formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation). The funds were provided via financial support from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.
Tony Hawk had this to say:
“It helps kids, especially those who don’t feel like they belong in team sports or are disenfranchised by mainstream activities, to have a sense of belonging and feel supported by their city,” Hawk told The Detroit News. “To have a place that I wasn’t at risk of getting hit by traffic or being told not to skate. So, when I had a chance to affect any kind of change, I wanted it to be through implementing skateparks.”
Chandler Skatepark is free and open to the public. There will be possible lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays in the near future.
Mayor Mike Duggan said this about the park:
“Next year, we are going to build an indoor dome that will allow year-round recreation in the center (of the campus),” Duggan said. “I don’t know who the celebrity is we’ll get there, but I know for sure, it’s not going to be as big of a star as Tony Hawk,”
