On March 28, 2024, dignitaries from across the city of Dallas convened at the site of the Bachman Lake Skatepark. It was an epic day, and a moment for the entire action sports community to be proud of. There is so much praise to go around.
Victor Nelson, Clinton Haley Founder of Skateparks for Dallas, Al Coker, Joe Varela, Michelle Sabin, & Jay Paul Sanchez helped break ground at Dallas’ first concrete skatepark
Skateparks for Dallas began in 2017 thanks to the vision of Clinton Haley and former Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano to recognize the need and get the project on the 2017 Bond.
Dallas voters overwhelmingly approved that bond in the November 2017 election.
Let’s not forget the passionate skateboard and action sports community that is continuously cultivated by Al Coker of the former Texas Skateboarding Museum and Guapo as well as Mike Crum and the team at 4DWN. These guys have been working for decades before SP4D to see this come to fruition.
Our local skateshops and their huge economic impact on the city are instrumental as well. Shout out to The Point, RecShop and Good Foot Skates.
District 6 Council Member Omar Narvaez, Park Board Member Tim Dickey, District 2 Council Member Jesse Moreno, D14 Park Board Representative Rudy Karimi have all been instrumental in this success!
The first speaker was the Director of Dallas Parks & Recreation, John Jenkins. He recounted the passionate support from city leaders to see this project to fruition, including allocating discretionary funds, crediting both the Mayor Eric Johnson and CM Omar Narvaez.
City of Dallas Parks & Recreation Director John Jenkins
The second speaker was Park Board President Arun Agarwal. Mr. Agarwal spoke of the passionate outreach of the skatepark community and this important gap finally being fulfilled. He speculated a future Olympian who is a child today could learn to skateboard in this park, which is exactly the reasons for these generational investments.
Parks & Recreation Park Board President Arun Agarwal
The third speaker was Mayor Eric Johnson, who noted that he was a regular visitor to Bachman Lake as a child and a regular skateboarder. He even got on an attendees board to prove it, which was super impressive. Mayor Johnson noted that parks are the backyards and vacations for many kids and they are so important in a growing and thriving city. Mayor Johnson was spot on!
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson
The fourth speaker was District 6 Council Member Omar Narvaez. Mr. Narvaez has been a passionate steward of Bachman Lake and the neighborhood, and has been a tireless advocate for making this skatepark happen. He has certainly put his money where his mouth is to make Bachman Lake a jewel in our city.
Dallas City Council Member Omar Narvaez
Last but not least, Park Board Representative Tim Dickey. Mr. Dickey is an incredible neighborhood advocate, and helped ensure that Bachman got the investment it so richly deserved. He shouted out our friends at Friends of Bachman Lake for their tireless efforts, as well as Skateparks for Dallas’ Clinton Haley for the leadership in seeing this skatepark become such an integral part of the park.
Park Board Representative Tim Dickey
The ground was both ceremonially and actually broken. You can see the progress below
Bachman Lake Skatepark Under Construction. Dam in the background
Bachman Lake Skatepark Ground Breaking
Bachman Lake Skatepark Ground Breaking
Bachman Lake Skatepark Ground Breaking Council Member Omar Narvaez Trying A Skateboard
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, he also rode this skateboard in dress shoes and a suit, proving he was a skater as kid.
Amazing shade trees preserved by the skatepark design
The actual Bachman Lake Skatepark ground breaking in the city of Dallas with Adam Medrano, Arun Agarwal, Omar Narvaez, Eric Johnson, John Jenkins, Skateparks for Dallas Founder Clinton Haley and Parks & Recreation Staff