Skateboarding legend Chad Muska has been putting in work for years to get a proper skatepark built in Lorain Ohio and last night everything finally came together.
As we previously reported, Muska returned to Lorain and has been planning to build the city’s biggest skatepark.
After years of planning and waiting, the city gave the green light and the budget for the skatepark was officially approved.
Muska pulled up to the City Hall meeting not knowing the decision was happening that night.
It was his first time speaking in front of the council and he was a little nervous, but he shared why the skatepark mattered to him and why these spaces are so important for young people.
A young BMX rider also stepped up and spoke about how having a place to ride can make a difference for the next generation.
The meeting moved through other city business before getting to the skatepark. The room went from routine work to full support when the council started talking about it.
Many city leaders including the mayor spoke highly of the project and showed real respect for what Muska and the community had been trying to make happen.
When the council president spoke before the vote it was a moment that clearly hit everyone in the room.
By the time the vote happened, the decision was unanimous and the skatepark was officially approved.
For Muska it was a surreal moment. In a city where skateboarding is often frowned upon, seeing so many leaders genuinely backing the project was emotional.
He credits the community and a few key city staff for making it all happen, saying his part was just a small piece of the bigger effort that stretched back five years.
Now Lorain will have a skatepark that gives kids a safe space to ride and grow. For Muska it is proof that sticking with something and working together with the community can pay off.
The project has finally become real and it is a moment the city and everyone involved will remember for a long time.
Muska Posted:
"WE DID IT LORAIN!!!
Last night was a night I’ll never forget!
After some time of silence I got an email saying there was an important meeting about the Skatepark last night so I headed out to it not realizing the decision was being made right then!
I had never been to a City Hall meeting before and I must admit I was kind of nervous after being in hermit mode all winter.
I signed up to speak publicly to share my passion about this project then following me a young BMX rider @huckkurinsky also spoke and shared the importance of having these places to ride for the youth to excel. Great job Huck!
Following the public speaking the meeting went straight into addressing several situations that needed funding, it was very formal and they went through all the issues relatively fast.
Then came the skatepark, the mood in the hall instantly shifted from just work to very passionate words from a majority of the city council members in support of the project.
Mayor Bradley has been a big supporter of the project since the beginning and also spoke highly of the skatepark too.
Then Joel Arredondo, the president of the city council, gave a speech before all the members voted that brought tears of joy running down my face. I hope there is a recording of it!
I felt so proud to be a part of such a special project that all these city officials were praising, a very surreal experience, I felt like I was in a place that would normally criminalize skateboarding, yet here were all these powerful city members that truly shared this passion.
I can’t thank everyone enough and I’m sure I’ll forget to mention many that were involved, but just know I appreciate all of your hard work, I was just a small part of making this happen, it was the community and few initial city workers that really made this a reality.
Thank you to Hannah, Linda, all the city council members, shred with Ed, Dominick, David (who originally sent a letter to the Mayor that really kicked things off about five years ago.
This has taken some time, but a lesson well learned, persistence pays off.
I want to say so much more but for now..
Thank you.
MUSKA-"