‘The Bricks’ skate park rolling toward opening
A group of local organizers has been working hard to bring a skateboard park to the area, with Malvern native and skateboarding enthusiast Lance Brownfield leading the charge for the last seven years. “Since high school, we were going to city council meetings and meeting with the mayor,” said Brownfield of he and his friends’ initial efforts. “We just got together as friends and said, ‘ We want a park, how do we get it done?’ ”
There wasn’t a suitable plot of land available back then, but the movement gained huge momentum a few months ago when Mayor Brenda Weldon decided that the city would donate a small plot of land at the corner of Fifth and Locust streets for organizers to develop.
Brownfield, HSU student and editor- in- chief of “The Oracle: Community Edition,” also hosts a bi- weekly podcast on skateboarding news and history in Arkansas called “The Natural Skate.” While traveling around the state to learn more about the skateboarding community, his desire to bring a skatepark to Malvern went into overdrive. “I’m visiting all these other parks, and there’s nothing in my hometown,” said Brownfield.
“We used to have a bowling alley, we used to have an arcade, we used to have a roller skating rink, we used to have a community pool,” said Brownfield. He stated that bringing some attractions back to the community would help bring Malvern back to life, and that a skatepark would be a great addition to keep kids active and out of trouble. “It’s something to put energy into that isn’t destructive like people think,” Brownfield stated.
He decided to contact the Chamber of Commerce a few months ago and inquire if there were any vacant lots in town, with the idea of buying a plot himself and creating a skatepark on his own. The Chamber pointed Brownfield to the lot at the corner of Fifth and Locust streets, and after working out an agreement with the mayor, the property was designated as the future site of “The Bricks” Malvern City Skatepark.
The property has been vacant for over 25 years. Brownfield and other like- minded individuals have joined forces to raise money for ramps, picnic tables, and lights to enhance the lot. The group is well on the way to transforming the simple space into a skateboarder’s gnarly paradise.
“My goal is that, I see Malvern— the youth are falling into terrible ways, so I’d rather them jump on a skateboard than go get into trouble, go to prison,” said Brownfield. ” A lot of my friends that I grew up skateboarding with, they stopped skateboarding, they went to prison— because it was their outlet to put their energy into that’s positive.”
The project has received enormous support from city officials, as well as area residents and businesses. Brownfield said the project has gotten supplies from a local concrete company and metal for railings from ASU Three Rivers. The college will also build planters, do the welding for the railings, and paint murals and other artwork to beautify the space while providing obstacles for skaters to enjoy.
Brownfield’s group asked for local volunteers to join cleanup efforts on Nov. 13 and had a good turnout. Dozens of people of all ages showed up to sweep, rake, dig, and pick up debris. They also had a free movie night fundraising event on Saturday, Nov. 27, with all proceeds going to readying the skatepark for public use.
“I think the people of Malvern realize we need something like this,” said Brownfield of the overwhelmingly positive community response to the project. He created a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the cleanup and transformation efforts. To learn more about the skatepark, or to donate to the project, please visit “The Natural Skate” Facebook page.