Photo by Laura Moon
Click to enlarge photos.By Ashley Hungerford
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
KENNESAW - Jerrod Labrie, a senior at Kennesaw Mountain High School, has been skateboarding for three years. But when he wants to skateboard without fear of being run off public and private property, he said, he has to drive to Atlanta or Gwinnett County to find a park.
"There aren't many spots in Kennesaw," he said. "Having a skate park is pretty cool because now we won't have to drive so far for a park."
Labrie, armed with a sketchpad of hand-drawn ideas such as low ledges shaped like a rainbow and other curved elements, was one of about 25 skaters ready to give his input on what the future Kennesaw skate park should include.
The Kennesaw Skate Park Committee held a public session Thursday night with Canadian-based Newline Skateparks Inc., which will design the park. More than 40 skaters, parents and city and county officials packed the Kennesaw council chambers for the two-hour forum.
Many skaters came with pictures from magazines or other parks.
The skate park is planned for Kennesaw's Swift-Cantrell Park. The city did not have funding for the skate park in the original park bond used to build the park. Instead, the Skatepark Committee has been busy raising funds.
Depending on actual design, the park is estimated to cost $1.2 million. The committee has raised about $30,000.
Trevor Morgan, director of business development for Newline Skateparks, said its common for skaters want to recreate elements they are familiar with.
"When you don't have a skate park, the city becomes the skate park," he said.
Recreating the plow on the front of The General locomotive was a common idea.
Zak Cochran, a member of the skate park committee, suggested railroad tie-like elements.
Adam Wesolowski, chairman of the committee, said creating a park unique to Kennesaw is one reason they were drawn to the Newline to design the park. He said Newline builds custom designed concrete skate parks with input from the local communities.
"We wanted the local flavor in the park," he said.
Design leaders visited the Southern Museum of Locomotive and Civil War History on Thursday to take pictures of the General.
Another idea was to incorporate the brick the city recently installed downtown. The sound of skateboard wheels rolling atop the brick is cool, Morgan said.
The skate committee is planning a 25,000-square-foot skate park.
Cobb County leaders were in the audience Thursday, which encouraged Wesolowski.
"People in Kennesaw and in Cobb are so in need of a skate park," he said.
And the Swift-Cantrell Park may not be the only one for long, Morgan said.
"Skate parks are changing," he said. "We're now getting prime community space to build them."
ahungerford@mdjonline.com
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Posted Comments
I think this is a great idea. I'm wondering if only Kennesaw residents will be allowed to use it. Will there be an entrance fee? Will it be supervised in any fashion?
Awesome!
There's a skate park at the YMCA on Stilesboro in Acworth.
Didn't his parents ever teach him to remove his hat indoors?
My name is jake roberts, im 17 years old and thats not my picture.
i'm wondering if they will allow bmx. if anyone knows comment.
yeah that wesley in the picture and i dont think there should be bmx i think it would mess it up
i think this is a great idea for Kennesaw to have a skatepark in their town but i think its unfair to only for residents in Kennesaw to be allowed if thats the case
one rule the skatepark should have are waivers for each rider who comes to the skate
HEY! That's my picture and my name is Wesley Lembo.
all out door skateparks are free and you dont need a wavier for an out door skate park and it is not going to be only for kenessaw residnts this is going to be the only skate park in cobb county if you came to the metting they tould you all of this all ready and if you have any ideas for the park send them an e-mail
they are still thinking about allowing bmx because there afraid for some one to get hurt like if a skater like me runs into another skater or a inliner it is not that bad but if we run into a bmxer we could break somting easy
I think it's a stupid idea cover up a large green area of the beautiful park with concrete!! There will be lawsuits against the city for the injuries that occur there. BAD IDEA!
My son will be thrilled!
Up with the park down with the D@!$$$%%!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark sir, if you want more grass, move to the plains. Or to san fransisco with the other hippies. A skatepark is a great idea, it gives kids who would otherwise be loaners and outcasts somewhere to go and have fun without the judgemental eyes of the "inside the box" thinkers like yourself. It also keeps them out of trouble. People who think like YOU are exactly the type that WOULD sue someone for an accident resulting from their own actions. Ample warnings are posted at every skatepark, as they are at public pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc. Driving is the number one killer in the US and i guarantee you that you get into a car at least twice a day if not more. So lighten up. Give it a chance. Get a lawn.
i think its a great idea because im from california in ive been lokking for skatespots all this time and i hate it were i live i live in bankhead in im moving to kennesaw in the summer looking for mix race in lots of friends and skaters pease
i just want to know the date it will be done many of my friends and peoople from other parks r loosing hope of the parks they think it will never e done in time for a summer full of skating
all you people who don't want the skate park to be built are skaterhaters. come on man would u rather us skate in the street or at the school were we get tickets and stuff. and there wont beny law suits because they will have waivers. its a lawin georgia that all the parks must have waivers.
Hey, Thanks for the story. I will definatly try and come to the park, to see the little boys. -MJ
I am THRILLED this park is coming! We live in a snotty neighborhood and all my kids do is skate, practice skate and skate! The neighbors hate it....my kids spend more time perfecting their skating and more money on their boards than the snobby tennis people spend on their rackets...........I love watching them skate, they have long hair ...OH MY!! they are great kids with a passion for skating! I will buy bricks for the park and will bring my boys every day!!! Too cool :)
My boys and their friends are skater dudes! Skaters are misunderstood, neighbors look down at them........the heck with them! I can't wait for the park!!! We'll be there! We'll sign a waiver, and if not, we won't sue! They usually have some kind of injury on them! They wear it like a medal! Minor injuries go with the sport. We're excited, can't wait!
Hey Mark guy, had you rather me be skating up and down your street or at a skatepark? If they don't build the skatepark all us skaters will be out in the streets and other places non-skaters don't want us. BUILD IT AND WE WILL COME!!!!!!!!
Blader For LIFE!!!