The city broke ground Thursday on a small skate park in City Heights. The neighborhood has seen a lot of gold shovels and red ribbons this year as the city makes progress on at least five new parks in the community.
The neighborhood has been about 100 acres short of the recommended park space for a neighborhood of its size. A big driver of the new parks is a group of local teens involved with community nonprofit Mid-City CAN. They've led a years-long campaign for safe places to skateboard and play.
Terry Stanley, 20, grew up in City Heights and said he remembers when it seemed officials were tearing his community up with the extension of Interstate 15 through the neighborhood. He said Thursday's groundbreaking is a sign they're rebuilding — with youth input.
"It shows that we have a voice, that we can accomplish anything we want in our community as long as we put the effort to it," Stanley said. "It's pretty good for the youth knowing that adults aren't just making the decisions, that youth have a say as well."
Councilwoman Marti Emerald said the community came to her with a wishlist when she was elected in their district. At the top was a skate park.
"They didn't let up and I'm so glad they didn't because they inspired from the beginning, these young people who are saying this is the kind of community we want to have," Emerald said.
The Central Avenue Mini Park will bring a 3,500-square-foot skate plaza, turf and play areas to a small parcel of land along Interstate 15 a few blocks south of University Avenue. It's scheduled to open in November 2015.
The city acquired funds this summer to also build a full-scale skate park elsewhere in the neighborhood. And earlier this year residents celebrated budget allocations for parks on Wightman Street and Home Avenue and cut the ribbon on a park on 43rd Street.
