Community awaits opening of finished park

By Simon Pruitt

Rick Oden Skate Park lies at the edge of a sleepy road in south Garland. The park has been completed for nearly a year, yet it remains completely untouched. DFW’s skating community has been largely left in the dark by the City of Garland and its Parks and Rec department regarding updates for the park. 

“This community went a whole summer just looking at the place, complete and fenced up.” says P.J. Thebeau.

Thebeau is the owner of Devotion Skate Company on Northwest Highway and has owned various shops around DFW since 2000. He expressed the frustration with the city creating the park only to delay the opening and not communicate updates. 

The park was built by SPA Skateparks, an independent skatepark design company. “These guys were done and gone by last Thanksgiving.” Thebeau explained, “The City of Garland is responsible for the rest.” 

In November, groups of Dallas skaters began hopping the fence and using the park. Garland responded quickly, slapping down $500 trespassing fines to any breach of the fence into the park. 

Between the fines and vague updates, the community remains as engaged as ever. Thebeau attributes this to how deprived the area has been for decades.

“Garland has not had a skatepark since Wizard Skatepark in the ’70s.” he said, “Long overdue for another park of this magnitude on this side of Dallas.”

When the park reaches its climatic grand opening, Thebeau and other skaters of DFW will finally be rewarded for years of patience. 

As of August, the park remains closed with no updates from the city since January.  

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