Town Park is the first skatepark in West Oakland, and just about everything in it has been donated. On a piece of land about the size of two basketball courts, the park has mini-ramps, table-tops, grind rails and more are constantly being built. For the past year, volunteers, from professional carpenters to teenagers walking by, have worked endless hours building this park.
Keith “K-Dub” Williams, the driving force behind Town Park, has not earned a dime from the city and has also put in at least $20,000 from his own pocket.
“It’s a hand-me down park with beautiful people making it happen,” he says.
It should be completely finished soon, after the city sends out its engineers to check the nuts and bolts, secure the decks on the ramps and give their seal of approval.
“I’m probably gonna cry when they come out,” says K-Dub.
Even though it isn’t officially done, kids skate here everyday. If K-Dub is around, he’ll open the gates and let them in. If he’s not around, they’ll jump the fence despite the two no trespassing signs he posted.
Published December 16, 2008 on East Bay West Online.
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