'Skate Annandale' Event Kicks Off on Saturday

For more than two hours on Saturday, Annandale skate enthusiasts, parents and residents will convene at the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department for downtown Annandale’s first mobile skatepark.

Skaters of all ages and skill levels are invited to the free event, which is sponsored by American Inline and Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 6. In addition to rails, ramps and a mini half-pipe for skaters to explore, there will also be games and other activities.

Skate Annandale is the beginning of what several Annandale organizations hope will result in a permanent skateboard plaza in downtown Annandale.

Since last spring, David Starr, owner of Beanetics Coffee Roasters and Carol Z. Reuss, owner of the Annandale Shopping Center, have worked to gather support for the plaza from several local organizations such as the Annandale Chamber of Commerce, Annandale Boys and Girls Club, Annandale Women’s Club, Annandale Lion’s Club, Annanadale Central Business District Planning Committee, Knights of Columbus, the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department, Annandale area churches and commercial property owners.

The April 2012 issue of Endeavor, the Annandale Chamber’s online news magazine, states that the proposal for the skate plaza stems from the desire for Annandale youth to have “clean honest fun” without “the real risk of being hit by cars speeding in these alleyways or by large delivery trucks” while they “enjoy a bit of low level skate boarding behind any number of the shopping centers in Annandale.”

Annandale already has a skatepark in Wakefield Park, but the local groups feel that kids ages 11-15 would benefit from a skate plaza that is easily accessible by walking or biking.

“Unfortunately, this age group does not drive and walking or biking to Wakefield is a treacherous affair. If approved, the project would be built and maintained by the Park Authority and become one of many small pocket parks called for in the 2010 County Comprehensive Plan for Annandale,” the Endeavor article states.

Inquiries to Gross’s office were not returned, but the flyer states the mobile skatepark is for one afternoon only. The local organizations involved are hoping that the proposal for the plaza gets approved to make the skate plaza a permanent fixture in downtown Annandale.

"Skateboarders in the community should attend on Saturday to have fun and to help demonstrate the excitement that the community has in creating more opportunities and spaces to board," said Starr.

All participants planning to attend on Saturday are asked to bring their own safety equipment to the event.