About Tony Hawk’s Skatepark Project Charity
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 10 December 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Tony Hawk’s Skatepark Project
For more than 20 years, Tony Hawk’s Skatepark Project has been working to build skating facilities across the USA. The initiative aims to promote skateboarding in small communities that may not have access to the resources and allows younger generations to experience the benefits of skate culture. In this guide, we have shared a history of the initiative, explained how it operates, and discussed some of the foundation’s biggest achievements.
Intro to the Tony Hawk Foundation’s Charity
We’ve begun this guide by diving into the Tony Hawk Skatepark Project, from its launch during the prime of Hawk’s career to its recent rebranding. We’ve then looked at the aims and objectives of the initiative and how it operates to provide funding for new skateparks.
From there, we’ve discussed some of the most notable projects over the past 20 years, and how these have impacted the local communities. To round out the guide, we’ve explored the resources provided to organizers and what the future holds for Tony Hawk’s brainchild.
- History of the Project
- How it Works
- The Local Impact
- Notable Skatepark Projects
- Resources for Organizers
- The Future of the Initiative
History of the Tony Hawk Skatepark Project
In the late 90s and early 2000s, Tony Hawk was at the height of his fame. Not only was he the biggest skateboarder in the world, but he had amassed a fortune in sponsorship and media deals, whether through his streetwear brand or Tony Hawk video games. In 2002, Hawk leveraged his success to create the Tony Hawk Foundation.
This nonprofit organization aimed to address the lack of skating infrastructure in communities across the USA. He was inspired by his upbringing in San Diego, with the city having ample infrastructure to help him develop his skills and personality. He noticed that while wealthier suburbs could afford to build and maintain skateparks, lower-income communities were unable to.
This was even though these communities often had the highest concentration of young skateboarders. The aim of the foundation, which was rebranded as the Skatepark Project in 2020, was to provide these communities with the resources to build quality skate parks so younger skaters could develop their skills and make social connections.
In its early years, the foundation aimed to raise money and provide grants to help build public skateparks in disadvantaged areas. Over the years, it realized that the funds weren’t enough to make a lasting impact, with some communities burdened by regulatory red tape or public resistance.
In addition to the funding, the project also provides resources to help communities advocate for new skateparks, and then design and construct the facilities. It has now expanded to advocate for the skateboarding community as a whole, with educational resources developed and shared for outreach.
How the Skatepark Project Works
Through his Skatepark foundation, Tony Hawk and his team have established a comprehensive system that exceeds grant-making and council applications. Rather than offering the full-scale services of a team to complete all of the work, it instead empowers and supports local advocates to be instrumental in the entire process.
When applicants apply for a grant, they must complete a detailed application that identifies why their community would benefit from a skatepark and the funding. The foundation then assesses whether there is ample community support, if there are other funds available, and whether the location will be accessible to youth.
If the organization sees benefits to the park but there isn’t community support, it can help to provide resources on how to advocate for it. One of the integral elements of the foundation’s approach is that it provides technical experts at every step of the way, from sourcing additional sponsorship to constructing the park.
These experts can assist with choosing the correct sites and ensuring designs meet health and safety standards. They also work with local skaters to inform the design process, ensuring the result is something the local community can be proud of. It also guarantees that the skaters have a sense of responsibility in maintaining the park and establishing a community around it.
The Local Impact
Throughout its history, the Skatepark Project has been instrumental in building the popularity of skateboarding across the USA. Anyone who enjoyed Summer Olympics betting will have noticed the odds for skateboarding in the previous two years, with its inclusion in the Games a sign of the sport’s huge impact on society.
Of course, it isn’t just the effects on the wider sporting community that the organization has helped. There have been immediate benefits reported by the communities that have received assistance from the foundation. Not only does it increase the physical health of youth, but it helps them to develop social skills.
Skateboarding has always been inclusive, too, with older skaters helping to foster the talents of newcomers. This exposure to older role models and mentors can help younger people navigate not just the skating world but also their social lives and can lead to less destructive behaviors.
For the surrounding communities, these community-run parks also provide a space for skaters to express themselves, leading to less unwanted skateboarding in public spaces or roads. With the parks becoming social hubs, they can also inspire increased investment in surrounding public spaces, having rippling effects on the towns at large.
Notable Skatepark Projects
Since its early beginnings as the Tony Hawk Foundation to the organization today, the foundation has helped to fund over 660 skateparks in all 50 states. These are visited by nine million skateboarders annually. The builds have been achieved through $13 million of its funds, with more than 1,000 advocates supported through its processes across the globe.
There are several notable examples of parks that have had significant impacts on the surrounding communities. One is the Paradise Skatepark in California, which was built by the community following the Camp Fire of 2018. This was achieved in the wake of the tragedy and has become a sign of resilience.
Another Tony Hawk Skatepark Project that had a rippling impact was the Riverside Skatepark in Detroit. Its location in an overlooked neighborhood was such a success that it helped to inspire revitalization in the surrounding area. A similar phenomenon was witnessed at the Watts Serenity Park in Los Angeles.
However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the foundation. A 2024 effort to build two skateparks in Brooklyn and two in the Bronx was met with opposition from local groups. Protestors decried pouring concrete over green spaces and have attempted to stop the development. Time will tell whether they will be successful.
Resources for Grassroots Organizers
To aid in the development of projects, the Skatepark Project has developed a wealth of resources to help local advocates develop their skateparks. This includes strategies on how to raise funds from local businesses and government, tips for navigating government red tape, and guidelines on how to foster community support and engagement.
These resources are available for free through the organization’s official website. In addition to this toolkit of resources, advocates can find case studies and details about previous projects, which can further aid in their funding goals. There are also technical specifications and templates for application documents to help with the planning.
The organization is staffed with several experts who provide consultation throughout the development stages. These experts include skatepark architects and designers as well as community members who are experienced in the bureaucratic process. Advocates can also use the service to connect with other community organizers, with regular workshops and education sessions help online.
The Future of the Skatepark Project
The Tony Hawk Skatepark Project is set to continue its ambitious aim to provide public skateparks across the USA well into the future. However, there are several challenges that the organization aims to address to ensure its sustainability. Firstly, the organization is working towards a more climate-friendly approach to skatepark design.
This includes sourcing more sustainable materials and ensuring that the parks don’t have negative impacts on surrounding nature. It also emphasizes the importance of more inclusive design for skateboarders with disabilities by facilitating these conversations with advocates at the early planning stages.
As for its international ambitions, it appears that the Project will remain solely focused on funding facilities in the USA for the time being. That said, its resources are freely available to international advocates and have already been used to launch projects overseas in South Africa, Cambodia, and Afghanistan. With dozens of projects still in development with the foundation and backing from high-profile athletes, the Skatepark Project’s future is looking bright.
