‘Community hub’: New skatepark opens in West Charlotte
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A new place to skate is now open on Charlotte’s west side.
The Collective on Tuckaseegee is a new retail development with a skate park, which is the first of its kind in the area.
The new skate park is bringing people from all across the area to the Enderly Park Neighborhood, where they can skate for free and show off their tricks and kicks.
Asjad Faulkner has been skating for five years and has visited a few skate parks throughout the Queen City.
“Once I heard this place was opening up on Tuckaseegee, which is on the west side of Charlotte, it’s a little hectic over here on this side. So when I heard they were opening up this skate park, I was interested, you know, I had had to see what that was about,” Faulkner said.
The skate park is part of the newest retail concept from The Whitaker Group best known for the streetwear store Social Status in Plaza Midwood. The owners have plans for a skate shop and other stores giving people more reasons to visit the Enderly Park area.
“We believe that retail can create positive change by offering experiences that go beyond transactions. Our approach integrates cultural, social, and recreational elements into our retail spaces to provide a multifaceted experience. The Collective embodies this ideology, serving as a community hub where people can shop, engage, participate in events, and feel seen and heard,” a spokeswoman for The Whitaker Group said in a statement.
The skate park has a little bit of everything for every level of skater, from ams to pros with rails, a ramp, a quarter pipe and more located less than 15 minutes from Uptown Charlotte.
“I didn’t even know this was a thing until the park got built,” said skater Tayden Miller. “It’s sweet. It’s fun. It’s not too big and everything here is made for everyone.”
Skaters also say they like the location of The Collective on Tuckaseegee.
“There’s so much that goes into it as far as, like, traveling to the park,” Miller said. “So, if it’s closer, it’s just more convenient when you’re wanting to get outside and go skate.”
The owners believe this is the only black-owned skate park in the country.
“Black and brown people have been part of skate forever, but specifically in Charlotte and in these communities, there aren’t dedicated skate areas or skateparks. Rather than focusing on sports like basketball, where access is not traditionally limited for these groups, we wanted to take this opportunity to invest in a skatepark as part of the development, and also launch APB Skate. And because Charlotte is our home, it was easy to bring it all together,” a spokeswoman said.
“You’re never going to start skating and be a professional,” Faulkner said. “You have to keep trying, you’re going to fall but you just have to have the mentality to get back up and try it again, you know?”
Owners plan to host community-driven programs like after-school skate lessons and events targeting women, kids and families. There are several events planned to kick off the opening weekend.
Friday, June 21: APB | GO Skate Day
4 P.M. Group Skate: APB will host a group skate across Charlotte that concludes at the Tuckaseegee campus. Details on the skate day include:
5 P.M. – 9 P.M. Open Skate: Attendees are encouraged to participate in an open skate with food and beverage offerings alongside competitions, group skate and more. There will be exclusive Nike SB giveaways and prizes, alongside a full celebration with movie screenings, DJ, food trucks and drinks.
Saturday, June 22: Kids Skate and APB Skate Competition
10 A.M. – 12 P.M. | Kid Skate: Bring your young loved ones for a Kids Skate from
2 P.M. – 5 P.M. | The APB Skate Competition: The Collective will host its first-ever skate competition
Sunday, June 23: Kids Skate, Women & Girls Skate Time
10 A.M. – 12 P.M. | Kid Stake: Bring your young loved ones for a Kids Skate
2 P.M. – 4 P.M. | Women & Girls Skate Time: Calling all the ladies and youth for a Women & Girls Skate Time
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