SKATE FEST II

On Friday, September 27th, Skate Fest II went down at Ocean Hill Playground in Brownsville. The community event was organized by long-time HHF member and Brownsville native Wade Yates. It featured a pump track, contest, giveaways and scope meeting with city officials to discuss a proposed skatepark for the neighborhood. Wade has been advocating for the construction of a proper skatepark in Brownsville for many years now, and his efforts are beginning to pay off.

As Wade puts it, "Over the years I’ve gained the trust of the Parks Department by using my voice. They gave me an opportunity to help organize Skate Fest II. Skaters from Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx showed up to support, skate and win prizes. The community expressed how much they support the idea of bringing sport diversity into the neighborhood for the first time. The same people I grew up fighting with just to skate flat ground were at the meeting asking about the design of the park and interested in having something new here. I may have started this journey alone, but I’ve had about a hundred people help me get this far. Recently, the Parks Department has expressed to me that they want me to have all the control I can to make it the best skatepark in Brooklyn. But my goal is to make it the best skatepark in the entire city."

Keep up the great work, Wade! We're very proud of your determination and unwavering desire to better your local community. That's what it's all about.

Event recap video was shot and produced by Parlour Productions.