A Skate Park Of Their Own

By Glenn Judah
Published in January 2008 issue of Drift Magazine
Link: A Skate Park Of Their Own

Local skaters rally to raise funds for an Anastasia Island park

Eight miles from where they’d like to be skateboarding, more than 70 kids surround the concrete playground at Treaty Park, watching, cheering and waiting to drop in.

It’s been three years since a new skate park on Anastasia Island was proposed, and this skate contest, a fund-raiser held Dec. 15, represents the final stretch of the process for Project Skate Inc.

After waiting for city government decisions, meeting with neighbors, and revising their ideas, all that is left to do is raise $70,000 and break ground inside the Lighthouse Park neighborhood on Anastasia Island.

“The objective of the contest is to get the awareness out,” said Damon Douglas, president of Project Skate Inc. “It’s the kickoff event.”

The $70,000 must be turned into the city by June 1 so the project can go out for bid. If this deadline set by the city is not met, the project could lose the $200,000 skate grant that the city gave it in 2005.

“We have pretty much tapped out our government contributions,” said Douglas. “We are now looking for local contributions to get us there.”

Project Skate Inc. is following the same model of sponsorship and donors that helped complete Treaty Park. Displayed at the back of Treaty Park is a memorial listing all of the individuals and businesses that contributed to the park’s completion. The new park, which will be located near the entrance of Anastasia State Park, will have a similar memorial to spotlight key donors to the project. The donation levels range from $500 to more than $50,000.

For now, the park bears the name of a man who gave much of his time to help children enjoy recreation: the late J. Edward “Red” Cox, who was superintendent of the St. Augustine and St. Johns County Recreation Department for 38 years, a member of the St. Augustine Saints professional baseball club in the mid 1940s, and an honorary Flagler College coach.

The goal behind the Red Cox Park has been to create a safe place for kids who live on Anastasia Island to learn to skate, said Brooks. After the city outlawed skating in the downtown historical district in 2003, kids who live on the island had little choice but to travel to Treaty Park, the closest skate park as of now. The drive can take about 20 minutes. For preteens, that means a ride in mom’s minivan.

“It is for kids who can’t drive over to Treaty Park,” Douglas said. “We want to gear it toward beginners and have it feed in to Treaty Park as they get older and more experienced.”

With this goal in mind, Red Cox Park will differ greatly from Treaty Park. Red Cox Park will be smaller, at about 20,000 square feet. All of the obstacles of the course will be designed for beginners and will fit a smaller space. Treaty Park is more than 40,000 square feet, with skate elements that attract experienced riders.

“The skate park will have a mellow surf feel to it so that kids can get the hang of riding first,” Douglas said.

Besides the skate elements, there will be picnic areas, a playground, fitness stations and recreation trails.

“It will be more of a typical park feel, where the whole family can get involved,” Douglas said.

The skate design will not be officially put out to bid until June 1, but the design is being developed. There will be a small bowl, a set of stairs and beginner to intermediate size ramps. Like Treaty Park, the entire skate surface and elements will be done in concrete.

Douglas, who was raised in the Lighthouse Park neighborhood, said he wants the park to reflect the positive nature of skating and change the minds of those who see the skateboard culture as a bad influence on children.

“It can be an education process to those who see skateboarding tied drugs and vandalism,” Douglas said. “That’s their exposure to skating. I’m hoping that we will change peoples’ minds on that. It won’t be revolutionary, but I hope we can change how people look at skating and keep it on the positive.”

If Project Skate Inc. meets its goal and raises the remaining money, they hope to start construction by the end of July.

“It shouldn’t be too bad to raise,” Brooks said. “I’m pretty positive we can get there.”