UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Two Union County teenagers are hopeful the town of Indian Trail considers their proposal to build a skate park.
The two college students, who became friends in high school, said the closest public skate parks are roughly a half hour away. Meaning, when the two want to skate in a safe, free environment, it requires a lengthy drive.
Sam McMackin, a 19-year-old student at Appalachian State, and his friend Wyatt Austin, a 19-year-old Central Piedmont Community College student, put their desire into action, speaking to town council officially in February.
What You Need To Know
Two college students from Indian Trail want the town to consider a public skate park
The two say a public park is safer, more accessible for residents and keeps kids from skating on public streets
The town asked the two teens to start researching public grants, which would fund the park's construction
The two introduced their plan to town council with a PowerPoint presentation, asking the town to consider the proposal and build a public skate park.
Now, as the proposal moves to future steps, Austin said a public skate park makes sense for the town.
“Kids can just come out and not have to worry about, 'Am I going to get yelled at? Am I going to get hurt on the streets?' Or just stuff like that so I think it’s important for something like this to be had in Indian Trail,” Austin explained.
He said the sport teaches good life skills, such as not to give up on your goals. In fact, he’s even using the push for a park as part of his college education in marketing.
“I think this is good experience for me, kind of having to market to people. And just go out and talk to, you know, city leaders about getting this built, so I think it was a lot of good practice for me for real life,” Austin added.
When Austin first had the idea to ask the town for a park, it was now-deceased Mayor Michael Alvarez who encouraged the teens to pursue their goal, present to the town and research the project.
“He just told us everything we need to do, gave us a great motivational speech saying, ‘Anything’s possible as long as you work hard for it,'” McMackin said about the call.
McMackin, who’s been skating for years, said the idea of a park in his town was always on his mind, but his friend Wyatt helped put it into action.
“Getting a skate park near where I live has always kind of been on my mind. But it was really Wyatt that kind of took the initiative to get the ball rolling,” McMackin recalled.
The two met in high school in Union County, bonding over their love of skating, sports and music.
“I know we had lunch together, what was it senior year? Yeah. Yeah, senior year of high school we had lunch I think first semester,” McMackin asked his friend while taking a break from skating.
Now, the two skate together about three times a week when they’re not busy with college and other responsibilities. Usually, the two make the half-hour drive to a public park outside of Charlotte, which has a public, free skate park.
“It’s about 30 minutes, it’s right off of Tyvola Road,” Austin said.
The Renaissance Park ramps give Austin and McMackin an opportunity to do what they love and get good exercise.
“After like 30 minutes of skating I’ll be kinda tired, so I think it’s good exercise and me and my friends get to come out here and have fun, so that’s what it’s all about,” Austin said.
“I love coming out here. I guess it’s because how creative you can be on a skateboard. You know, there’s not really any rules to what you can and can’t do about skateboarding,” McMackin added.
After presenting to council, the two teenagers said the town asked them to start researching public grants, which the council could apply for to help fund a future park.
In a statement the town spokesperson said, “The Town of Indian Trail had a follow-up conversation with Wyatt and Sam after their presentation to the Town Council. We have asked them to look into funding options through possible grants or business sponsorships, as there is currently no Town funding set aside for a skate park. The Town has also been in contact with a leading skate park design company and is working with LandDesign, Inc. to explore potential Town property that would meet the needs for future park projects. If any available property could match the project and funding were secured, the Town would be open to considering a future skate park. We appreciate Wyatt and Sam getting involved with the Town and speaking up for something important to them.”
It's a consideration these two skaters, turned best friends, are determined to see become reality.
“If we had a park in Indian Trail, I’d do it every day,” Austin said.