Wedged in between Pepper Geddings Recreation Center and Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, the Myrtle Beach Skateboard Park opened in April of 1998.
Later that year 16 year old Matt Hughes died after hitting his head while skateboarding in North Myrtle Beach.
The park has since been renamed in his honor, but over two decades it has started to deteriorate.
Community members have donated about $15,000 to make over the 11-thousand square foot park. The city of Myrtle Beach has also budgeted $100,000, with the money going to new, longer-lasting ramps and equipment.
“This place needs it,” Terry Grimble, owner of Daville Skate Shop, said. “The youth need it, the skaters need it, there’s a big surf community so there’s a lot of crossover with skateboarding.”
Grimble and Noel Hughes, Matt’s older sister, are part of a committee working to renovate the skate park.
“Looking down on us I think that he’s really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Noel said, talking about her younger brother Matt. “And we may not have a multi-million dollar skate park, but what we are getting is going to be a lot better than what we have.”
A signed Tony Hawk skateboard and other donated items will be auctioned off in the ‘Good Vibes’ fundraiser happening Sunday, March 25th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Boathouse in Myrtle Beach.
You can read more about the fundraiser event here and the Go Fund Me page started for the renovations here.
