What began as an abandoned 17,000-square-foot warehouse filled with junk has transformed into a vibrant community hub. Photo by Lentheus Chaney/The Atlanta VoiceVillage Skate Park ATL, founded in 2021, was birthed from the community-driven endeavor of Takarai Aart. As a seasoned BMX rider, Takarai saw a unique opportunity to integrate action sports into the fabric of his local community, although the indoor facility lacked the street visibility he desired.From the age of 13, Takarai found his second home in skate parks, which sparked his dream of creating a similar space for others. Leveraging his background in construction and his earnings from various projects, he invested everything he had into building Village Skate Park ATL.“[Skate parks] kind of changed the trajectory of my life. I learned that you can make money from it, and I pursued it as a career for a while,” Takarai said. “When I moved to Atlanta, I started working with development groups, and that turned into the opportunity to have a building.”Photo by Lentheus Chaney/The Atlanta VoiceVelnice Aart, Takarai’s wife, played a significant role in the evolution of the skate park. Initially unfamiliar with skateboarding culture, she embraced it alongside the birth of their son, Life, who was skateboarding even before he could walk.“I didn’t know anything about skate parks and bikes,” Velnice said. “I did start skating before this, but I didn’t really come into the culture of skate parks until Life was born.”What began as an abandoned 17,000-square-foot warehouse filled with junk has transformed into a vibrant community hub. Supported by Takarai’s team, family, and the skate community, Village Skate Park ATL has become a center for community development.“I think that we stand out in terms of the sense of community that we bring and the sense of care. Often, skate parks are public parks where there’s not usually someone there who cares,” Velnice said. “But we like to be inclusive and sort of reach out and help those that we see needing help.”One of the hallmarks of Village Skate Park ATL is its dedication to inclusivity. People from various ethnicities, ages, and skill levels visit the facility. This inclusivity extends to people who speak Spanish, those who use sign language to communicate, and even people with disabilities.Photo by Lentheus Chaney/The Atlanta Voice“The most typical things that we see are skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, roller skates, and then bicycles,” Velnice said. “Some of the most unique things that we’ve seen include people in wheelchairs.”Strategic partnerships and community support have recently enhanced street visibility, which is paramount to the success of Village Skate Park ATL. A collaboration with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) provided valuable resources to design, fabricate, and install the once non-existent street signage.The ARC’s Culture and Community Design program emphasizes working with local governments, artists, and community members to co-design and implement community-driven projects. This partnership not only helped with the new signage and visibility but also reinforced the park’s role as a cultural and recreational asset in the community.According to Samyukth Shenbaga, Managing Director of the Community Development Department at ARC, they are focused on long-range planning to create healthy, thriving communities and believe that leveraging the arts and culture is essential in achieving this within the city’s expanding new construction sites.“Atlanta is a growing metro, and we’re seeing a lot of great development that’s happening in our region,” Shenbaga said. “We want to make sure that what’s happening with assets like Atlanta Skate Park isn’t just repeating development concepts that do not take into consideration the ethos of a place like this, which has arts and culture at its center for redevelopment and reimagining.”Despite its successes, Village Skate Park ATL faces challenges, particularly concerning the security of its location amidst growing urban development. The skate park’s proximity to the developing Beltline poses concerns about its future.However, Roshani Thakore of ARC and the skate park’s leaders remain proactive in addressing these issues by asserting their presence as a valuable community asset. Thakore said she wants to make sure that local planning processes authentically engage with the communities they affect.“We’ve seen plans where this area is marked as vacant. That’s not true. The skate park is here doing wonderful work, building community,” Thakore said. “We need artists to actually reimagine our cities and help local governments with doing that. The goal is to co-design with the community, and we’re committed to making that happen.”According to Thakore, Village Skate Park ATL serves as a vital resource for the community that people from other areas may not be aware of.“I know they’re primarily a recreational skate park, but they’re not just that. They have youth programs, and during COVID, they acted as a food distributor, working with a community partner, because this is a food desert,” Thakore said. “They host neighborhood association meetings, and they also offer classes in screen printing and sewing. And they really want young people to have a safe space to creatively explore their talents and skills.”Looking ahead, Village Skate Park ATL aims to expand its reach and impact. The park offers various membership options, including day passes and monthly memberships, providing affordable access to its facilities.Additionally, they welcome donations and support from individuals and organizations committed to fostering community growth and inclusivity. The skate park’s ongoing efforts to secure ownership of their space underline their dedication to creating a lasting, positive impact on the Atlanta community.Takarai and his team continue to seek community support and partnerships to secure the park’s future.“I feel really good about what we’ve built here,” Takarai said. “The support from the community and organizations like ARC makes me hopeful for what we can achieve together.”The post Redefining Urban Spaces: A unique blend of skate culture & community development appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.