Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark to Open

Grand Opening Celebration on June 11 to include Skate Demonstrations, Music and Fun

Atlanta, June 9, 2011 – This Saturday, June 11 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Atlanta’s first skatepark will open as part of Historic Fourth Ward Park on the Atlanta BeltLine. The Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark is one of three new parks opening as part of the Atlanta BeltLine in 2011 and is the culmination of a multi-year partnership between the community, City government, the Atlanta BeltLine and the private and nonprofit sectors.

City Councilmember Kwanza Hall, City and Atlanta BeltLine Officials will join the community and Atlanta’s vibrant skateboard community to officially open the new park, which also includes a multiuse field, a playground and sustainable water and energy features. Attendees are encouraged to picnic and bring blankets to relax on the field if they choose.

“This is a great addition to the City of Atlanta parks system, and another jewel in the green ring around the City that is the Atlanta BeltLine,” said Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Commissioner George Dusenbury.

“District 2 is proud to be home to this beautiful new facility, which will serve a wide range of users, from young children and skateboarders to families who want a great place to picnic and toss a frisbee,” said District 2 City Councilmember Kwanza Hall. “This is another milestone in the greening of the Old Fourth Ward.”

“The Atlanta BeltLine has developed this incredible park with an eye towards sustainability and resourcefulness,” said Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. President and CEO Brian Leary. “Similar to the newly re-opened D.H. Stanton Park, the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark will use solar panels to offset energy costs. It will also tap into a cistern for irrigation purposes, reducing strain on the city’s water supply.” Potable water will draw from the city’s water supply.

Funding for this park came from City of Atlanta Park Improvement Bonds, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Capital Campaign, the Atlanta BeltLine TAD and a grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation.

“This park is another exemplary model of public-private partnership on the Atlanta BeltLine to create more livable, healthy and economically vibrant communities,” said Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Executive Director Valarie Wilson. “We are grateful to all of our private sector partners and organizations that have contributed resources to this amazing new park.”

The Tony Hawk Foundation provided a $25,000 grant towards the construction of the Skatepark, and Tony Hawk himself made several design suggestions. “The Tony Hawk Foundation is delighted to have played a role in supporting the development of such an incredible resource for young and old skaters alike,” said Tony Hawk Foundation Executive Director Miki Vuckovich.

Members of the Tony Hawk Foundation staff will travel from California to attend the event, and several skaters from the Nike Skateboarding team will participate in demonstrations at the opening of the park between three and four p.m.

Thomas Taylor, owner of Stratosphere Skateboards in Little Five Points and a longtime leader in the Atlanta skateboarding community played a key role, with many others, in bringing the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark into being. “Years ago, we built Foundation Skatepark on this site so skaters would have a place to go. When the Atlanta BeltLine came along and included us in the planning and design process, we were really happy to have a city partner to create a world-class facility. I believe we have succeeded, and skaters will come from all over to experience it for themselves,” said Thomas Taylor.

Directions and parking information:
The park is located at 830 Willoughby Way, Atlanta, Georgia 30312, and there will be three lots for parking only a short walk away. Parking for Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark is very limited and will be available on a first-come/first-served basis. On-street parking will not be available on Willoughby Way, Ashley Ave. or East Ave.

Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or take MARTA Bus Route #16 (NobleDowntown/Noble-Executive Park) which makes multiple stops along Ralph McGill Boulevard near the Skatepark. For more information on the event, parking and directions, please visit Events.BeltLine.org.

View pictures of the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark here.

About the Atlanta BeltLine
The Atlanta BeltLine is the most comprehensive economic development effort ever undertaken in the City of Atlanta and among the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment projects currently underway in the United States. The Atlanta BeltLine is a sustainable redevelopment project that will provide a network of public parks, multi-use trails and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown and connecting many neighborhoods directly to each other. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI), formed by the Atlanta Development Authority, is the entity tasked with planning and executing the implementation of the Atlanta BeltLine in partnership with other public and private organizations, including City of Atlanta departments. The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership (ABLP) is a non-profit organization committed to raising funds from private and philanthropic sources to support the Atlanta BeltLine, working with the community and partners to raise general awareness and support, and serving as a catalyst to mobilize resources to address social concerns. For more information on the Atlanta BeltLine, please visit www.BeltLine.org.


CONTACT:

Ethan Davidson, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
(404) 614-8325, edavidson@atlbeltLine.org

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