Wakefield Skatepark extension officially opened

The new addition to the Wakefield Skatepark in Annandale was
completed weeks ago, but the official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Sept.
8.

The 6,000 square foot addition was developed by the
California-based Spohn Ranch skate park design and construction company, and
the plaza-style design was based on input from skaters. The new section has rails,
stairs, ledges, hubbas, and banks.

Until recently, “skateboarding was not considered a sport.
It was considered to be dangerous and annoying,” said Board of Supervisors
Chair Sharon Bulova. That is changing. It is now one of the fastest-growing
sports in the nation, and it’s the third most popular sport for American
teenagers, after football and basketball, she said. There are 11.6 million
skaters and more than 1,000 skate parks in the country.

“The county is now
developing public areas designed to encourage skating where we used to
discourage it,” said Braddock Supervisor John Cook. “We’re even designing
public art that is skateboard friendly.”

Park Authority Board member Marie Reinsdorf (at-large) noted bond
funding supports projects like the skatepark expansion and urged the public to
support the park bond on the November ballot.

The park authority no longer charges an admission fee to the
Wakefield Skatepark. Helmets and pads can be rented in the Audrey Moore RECenter. On Saturday, only the youngest skaters were wearing helmets. 

The Wakefield Skatepark, constructed in 2004, was the first skatepark developed by the Fairfax County Park Authority. A new one, at Lake Fairfax, is expected to be finished this month.

Click here for a video of the Wakefield Skatepark event on the Annandale Arts You Tube Channel.