Buda skateboarding community finds a home

On Dec. 14, the Jackson Tyler Norris Memorial Skate Park, 480 S. Loop 4, Buda, was unveiled to the community. The event drew dignitaries, business owners and skateboarding enthusiasts alike to the 10,000-square-foot skate park.

"The only thing I'm a little disappointed about is that it had to take a tragedy to happen to finally commit to a park," Enriquez said. "But I'm glad they finally took it and they understand that it's dangerous (to ride without a proper venue)."

The park was named after Jackson Tyler Norris, a teenage skateboarder from Buda who died after being struck by a vehicle in June 2011.

The community was left devastated in the wake of Jackson's death, said Mayor Todd Ruge.

"In a small community, anytime someone passes away, especially someone so young, it really helped bring the community together in a way," Ruge said.

News of the tragedy engendered strong support behind an initiative to build a city skate park, Ruge said.

With funding from Hays County available for parks and recreational use, a parcel of land in Buda sitting unused and the community supporting it, the city council began examining in earnest the possibility of constructing a skate park.

Conversations on the dais also revolved around the void in programs for teenagers where some existed for children younger than that age and young adults, he said.

"There was this in-between that was missing," Ruge said. "When we were thinking about which budgets to propose, this project shot right to the top."

Amber Mitchell, who grew up in Buda, said the city has needed a skate park for years.

Her friends who rode their skateboards around neighborhoods would often get in trouble for trespassing, she said.

Now that the city has a safe environment in which to practice the sport, she is glad her son has taken it up along with his friends.

"This is their own hobby, and they can turn it into a career or do what they want to do with it," Mitchell said.

The park is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.