PRESS RELEASES

Thursday, June 14, 2007

WHAT: A new place for the young and young-at-heart to ride the bowl, grind the rail or skate the half-pipe will soon open right here in Houston.  Early next summer, Houstonians will have a public, state-of-the-art, 30,000 square-foot in-ground skatepark. 

MEDIA OPP: On Thursday, June 14, 2007, city leaders and avid skaters will announce the name of the park, provide an opportunity to visit the future site of the park and will be available to discuss the importance of the new park facility to Houstonians.

                        Interviews and photo opportunities available with:

Mayor Bill White
Joe Jamail, Donor
Roksan Okan-Vick, Executive Director, Houston Parks Board
Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Barry Blumenthal, Jason Espeseth, Public Use Skateparks for Houston
Local Skaters

B-roll containing footage of skaters in similar facilities and interviews with Houston skaters will be available.

WHEN:           Thursday, June 14, 2007
                        11:00 a.m. – Park site opens
                        11:30 a.m. – Remarks and Interview Opportunity

WHERE: North end of Sabine Street Bridge – at the Houston Parks and Recreation Department access path.  A shuttle cart will bring you to the site West of Sabine St. Bridge. 

WHY: Skateboarding is the third most popular sport in the country for people ages 6-18. The goal of this project is to build one of the finest skateparks in the United States and to provide thousands of Houstonians with a great place for skateboarding and inline skating.  The park will be located at the end of Sabine Street along Houston’s beautiful Memorial Parkway. The Houston Parks Board, the City of Houston and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department are committed to working together to provide a fun and safe facility for skateboarders.

Houston Skatepark Announcement – Directions and Parking: 

Sabine Street is accessible from Memorial Drive eastbound shortly before downtown.  Exit Sabine, turn right, and media parking will be reserved on the street.   Sabine is also accessible from the I-45 South exit ramp to Allen Parkway, be prepared to turn right on Sabine Street just before the ramp merges with Allen Parkway.

Contact: Susan Elmore, Elmore Public Relations
susan@elmorepr.com; 713-702-4331