McDowell, 22, manages the Fairfax County’s Wakefield Skate Park in Annandale. The park hosts classes and camps throughout the summer.
How long has the skate park been around?
We opened in 2004, that was the original park, and since then, we started construction on the new skate park expansion, and that will be done around September. I’m really excited about that. It’s going to be a concrete plaza-style park. It has about 10 or so concrete features and a couple rails and staircases. It’s different from our current park, because our current park is all wood ramps. This is all concrete, which more and more is becoming the industry standard. Kids like to skate on concrete.
How much is the expansion going to cost?
It is $388,000. That was the amount of funding we were able to get from the county. Originally, when we built the park, it was understood it would be built in phases. This is basically the park authority living up to what they told the community.
How does the park help kids?
If they’re not skating here, they’re skating in urban spots where it may be dangerous. They may be skating illegally. Or they may be skating in an environment dangerous to them, where there’s traffic and stuff going on. It gives them a space that’s safe, free and available. And it does, to a certain extent, keep them out of trouble.
Do you skateboard?
I longboard. I’m familiar with extreme sports, but those kids would smoke me if I got out there.
Is skateboarding still cool?
Yeah, totally. I would say skateboarding is definitely still cool. If anything, it’s cooler because not just in our country, but all over the world there are more and more jurisdictions and counties installing these parks. It’s cooler because now people have more access.
– Liz Essley
