Feature story update: Indoor skate park opens over the weekend
This is a story update to the feature in our Jan/Feb 2012 issue on Dothan native Jamie Thomas’ efforts with local organizers to bring a permanent skate park to the city.
Four people, two trips and 20,000 pounds. When Berry Wardlaw purchased the wooden skate park equipment from the city of Homestead, Florida, he had no idea he would be embarking on one of the toughest jobs he’d ever done.
“We looked like the Beverly Hillbillies,” he says. “I thought we could load everything up on the back of my pickup truck. Shows what I know.”
Berry and his crew recently celebrated the opening of the new indoor skate park at Jenning’s Skate Shop, in honor of his deceased son, Jennings. The birthday party was intended to raise money and awareness for the Memorial Skate Park, a permanent, concrete skate park to one day be located at Westgate Park. He has received support from many places, including DEAD SNAKE Skateboard out of Atlanta, moms and dads, kids and Dothan’s own skateboarding legend, Jamie Thomas.
Professional skater and Dothan native Jamie Thomas has become involved in the project. On a recent trip to Dothan, Thomas presented plans for the skate park to the city and he and Wardlaw are working with contractors and raising money for the park. (For more details on Thomas’s visit and the plans for the skate park, see Dothan Magazine’s Jan. Feb. 2012 issue)
“Jamie has wanted to do this for a long time. It all came together with the idea for the Memorial skate park,” says Drew Burke, ambassador for Black Box, a company owned by Jamie Thomas. “It will be a pleasing park with benches, fountains, and places for skaters to practice.”
Berry decided to debut his indoor park on Jennings’ birthday. He was hoping for just 10 people to show. By 11 a.m., he had almost five times that number of kids and adults skating on the wooden ramps. The indoor park will begin hosting events to generate enthusiasm, money and awareness for the permanent concrete skate park.
“I really just wanted people to have safe fun on my boy’s birthday.”
I am SO proud of all the hard work and unrelenting love and dedication of my Uncle Berry and the dozens of my cousin, Jennings', supporters. Out of a terrible tragedy came a wonderful gift to the community. Uncle Berry, you amaze me!
Thank you sharing this Laura. We could not reach our goal without the kind of support your wonderful magazine provides us. We are proud to have you as part of our Wayward Krew family. Laissez les bons temps rouler. Berry and Krew.
I am so proud to be part of the wayward Krew!
where is this at?
WoW~Amazing story! My husband & I own the skateshop on 30A! We have family in Dothan! SK8 30A Board Shop would love to support this great new park!
I love what u are doing. Us skaters always need people in our courner, so do the skateshop. I hope everything keeps good for your shop and i am jenning would be proud.and it is always good to have jamie support ur cause, i remember he has always tried to support the dothan area. I am not forgetting rob arron either i am sure he will give u some support also. Damn i am old lol.
I love what u are doing. Us skaters always need people in our courner, so do the skateshop. I hope everything keeps good for your shop and i am jenning would be proud.and it is always good to have jamie support ur cause, i remember he has always tried to support the dothan area. I am not forgetting rob arron either i am sure he will give u some support also. Damn i am old lol.
Great Article
"put 'em on the cover"…