According to reports, San Francisco has changed the name of Waller Street Skate Park to Zion Skate Plaza to pay tribute to Zion Williams-Gaines, a blind skateboarder and community leader who really made a difference in the city’s skate culture.
Williams-Gaines, who sadly passed away in 2023, was way more than just a skater. He was a true inspiration, showing everyone that you can overcome anything with grit and determination.
Williams-Gaines picked up a skateboard at 11 and dove right into the SF Skate Club's afterschool program.
His passion for skating just kept growing, even after losing his sight as a teen due to a gunshot wound.
Instead of letting that hold him back, he adapted and found ways to skate in parks and streets, encouraging others to break through their own barriers.
Zion's impact wasn't just about his skills on the board. He was super energetic, helped out younger skaters, and did his best to make the local skate scene a friendlier place for everyone.
In 2022, he helped renovate the skatepark, pushing for safer and more inclusive spaces.
Before he passed, he was also on the path to getting a leadership role with SF Recreation and Parks to give back to the community that had been so important to him.
By renaming the park after him, the city is making sure that Zion’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.