The Garland City Council discussed the naming of the city’s new skatepark at the Feb. 28 work session. District 5 City Council Member Rich Aubin and Andy Hesser, managing director of Garland’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, brought a suggestion to the council.
Their proposed name for the skatepark was “The Boneyard,” which they believed would be unique and marketable.
Garland skateboard enthusiasts have waited a long time for a skatepark and it has finally become a reality and is under construction. It is slated to open this summer.
The skatepark is being constructed at Rick Oden Park at 968 West Miller Road. In addition to the skatepark, Rick Oden Park is scheduled for various other improvements. These include, according to the city’s website, a new playground, pedestrian bridge, shade structures, food truck park, benches, drinking fountains, restrooms, trails and a baseball field, In addition, there will be paving improvements and general site infrastructure improvements.
The skatepark will be the second largest one in the state of Texas with 46,000 square feet. It will have integrated skate features that combine street terrain, transition terrain and a beginner area.
Council Members Deborah Morris, Ed Moore, Jeff Bass and B.J. Williams expressed opinions that the people who’d be using the skatepark should have a say in naming it. Aubin reminded them that Garland’s citizens were not asked for their opinion when City Hall was named for Bill Dollar or the Municipal Court Building was named for Brad Neighbor. He also pointed out that tennis players were not asked when the Bob Day Tennis Center was named.
District 7 Council Member Robert J. Smith reminded the council that a policy already exists for the naming of parks, buildings, etc.
“I know everybody routinely reads their council policy as a way to fall asleep at night,” he said. “But I’d like to remind the council that we do have a policy on this that was adopted by this council. So, if after this meeting we would all like to go back and reread our council policies, we’ll find that this issue has been addressed.”