Peter Mathews Memorial Skate Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peter Mathews Memorial Skate Garden |
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|---|---|
| Type | Skatepark |
| Location | St. Louis |
| Area | 14,000 sq ft |
| Open | All year |
| Terrain | Concrete |
| Public transit access |  MetroBus |
The Peter Mathews Memorial Skate Garden is a special place in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the city's very first legal outdoor public skate park. This means it's a safe and official spot where skaters can enjoy their sport freely.
The Story Behind the Skate Park
This awesome skate park was built on a piece of land that used to be an old gas station and car repair shop. This kind of land is sometimes called a "Brownfield site" because it needs to be cleaned up before it can be used again. The city of St. Louis took ownership of this 14,000-square-foot area in 1999.
The cleanup of the land started in 2003. After the area was made safe, the city looked for a good use for it. They were really impressed by a group of local skaters who had built and taken care of their own unofficial skate park.
How Skaters Created Their Own Spot
Between 2009 and 2015, a group of dedicated local skaters built their own "DIY" (Do-It-Yourself) skate spot. They created this unofficial park under a big bridge called the South Kinghighway viaduct. It was a place where they could practice and hang out.
However, in July 2015, the old bridge was taken down. This left St. Louis without any free public skate parks. The skaters didn't give up! They formed a group called the Kingshighway Vigilante Transitions (KHVT). This group became a non-profit organization, which means they work for a good cause rather than for money.
The KHVT group asked the city for a proper place to build a new skate park. They wanted it to be free and legal for everyone to use. The city saw their passion and hard work. They decided to rent the cleaned-up gas station site to the KHVT. This led to the creation of the Peter Mathews Memorial Skate Garden.
Remembering Peter Mathews
The skate garden is named after Peter Mathews. He was a local skater who was well-known and loved in the community. Sadly, Peter passed away unexpectedly. Naming the park after him is a way to honor his memory and his love for skateboarding. It ensures his spirit lives on in a place where many others can share his passion.
