South Whittier, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation, leaders from the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, and local skateboarders celebrated the grand opening of a new skatepark at Amelia Mayberry Park in unincorporated South Whittier.
“For years, local skaters have resorted to skating in the Senior Center parking lot and on sidewalks where they weren’t always given a warm welcome,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn who funded the project using $2 million of Fourth District Measure A funds. “The new Mayberry Skatepark is going to not only be a place where they can skate safely, but because they helped design it – it is going to be a skatepark they can be proud of.”
While the project was funded with an allocation of Measure A funding from Supervisor Hahn, it was developed by the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, a local nonprofit on a mission to contribute to the equity and well-being of neighborhoods through the development of parks, gardens, and community-driven organizing.
This project is unique because the local skaters themselves helped design the park. In 2017, local skaters participated in a series of workshops at the Amelia Mayberry Park Senior Center where they developed their own designs and recommendations for the skate park. The result is an 18,000 square foot open concept skate park with a variety of ledges, bowls, quarter pipes, and rails for skater of all levels to practice and showcase their skills.
“Thank to the support of Supervisor Janice Hahn, LA County Parks expands access to state-of-the-art recreational spaces while supporting wellness,” said John Wicker, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Director. “The Amelia Mayberry Skate Park will offer sports and skater enthusiasts with the opportunity to have outdoor fun in their own community.”