State minister in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Alando Terrelonge says the Government is in full support of the opening of the Freedom Skatepark as the facility is aimed at strengthening the development of children and youth and their education, which ultimately is hoped will create opportunities for leadership and achievement.

The Freedom Skatepark, the largest skate park in Jamaica and the first and only in the Corporate Area, was officially opened in Eight Miles, Bull Bay, on Wednesday.

Constructed in March-April 2020 under the direction of Concrete Jungle Foundation by some 40 international and local volunteers, the 1,300-square-metre Freedom Skatepark was inspired by Andre ''Wildfiyah'' Thompson, a 20-year-old Jamaican skateboarder who tragically lost his life to violence in 2009.

Thompson was passionate about youth development and promoting social enterprise within his community, which included writing proposals to local foundations with a hope of raising funds that would help upskill young people.

It was a part of his dream for Jamaica to have a skate park, which he spoke of just days before his passing. The Freedom Skatepark was built in his honour and dedicated to his memory.

Terrelonge, who spoke on behalf of Minister Olivia "Babsy" Grange, said that the opening of the skate park was consistent with national, regional and global sports policies to intentionally use sport to achieve what is referred to as "non-sport outcomes".

"Strong sport for development and peace programmes embody the values of sport while embracing the experience that sport and play can provide.

"They empower the participants and communities in which they are being implemented by engaging them in the design, development, and delivery of the objectives while building capacity at the local level," Terrelonge said.

Freedom Skatepark, through its programme partnership with the Concrete Jungle Foundation, has provided local employment opportunities in the areas of skate park construction, teaching, park management, graphic design, and social media management. A total of 26 people are currently employed in those vocations.

Also, the Freedom Skatepark offers educational and summer programmes with the desire to keep the children in the community actively and positively engaged in a safe space. With 35 participants, the programme's activities include music, art, carpentry, and science.

All educational programmes are fully funded by the Sandals Foundation.

"The amalgamation of skateboarding, psychology education, music, art, photography, community engagement, and tutoring is in essence harnessing the power of sport to break barriers and inspire confidence. All participants can benefit from the universal popularity of the sport, which, when done correctly, transcends socio-economic, cultural and political boundaries.

"The Freedom Skatepark and the investment from non-government organisations now adds to the facilities that are available for use for sport, physical activity, and play. This kind of investment that we want to encourage corporate companies and non-government organisations to consider investing in as public resources are limited and is insufficient to serve the needs of all communities," Terrelonge said.

In addition to the Concrete Jungle Foundation and Sandals Foundation, other sponsors of Freedom Skatepark include Flipping Youth, UK, Seprod, Bull Bay Football Club, Skateboarding Jamaica, Tmrw.Tday Culture Fest, H.E.L.P, SK876, PSC, Jeffrey Moss-Solomon, Blake Burnett, Lisa D'Oyen, Lorraine Jones, Gina Brady-Mair, Tabetha Phillips, and Kayla Wheeler.

Source: Ruddy Allen, Staff Reporter, Jamaica Observer