Skateboarders in the Fourways community are now able to use the revamped skate park in Kingfisher Drive thanks to a Kyalami-based artist.
Joe Tong, better known by his artist name SleepyJoe, has been skating at the park since the age of nine. The skate park was built in Fourways 30 years ago.
“People asked me when I started painting here at the skate park why am I doing it? I thought then I can use this to get some type of initiative going. It is now a way to beautify the place so that we as a skating community can hopefully fix it,” he said.
While he was doing the artwork painting at the skate park, a community member offered to organise to fix any cracks on the ramps and other general repairs.
“A lady who doesn’t stay too far from the park and owns a preschool came on board with getting a builder who helps at the school. She pays him and we have to get funding for the materials.
“We have been lucky to receive funding through word-of-mouth and awareness on social media,” he told Fourways Review.
Tong said he was motivated to brighten up the skate park with his artwork after he noticed how many people enjoyed his paintings.
“I just felt it was necessary. It makes the kids happy, it makes moms happy. This place has long been a little part of the park where no one wants to go unless they are skating or smoking.
“While there is nothing wrong with that, it has been a place that parents and children had a reason to not like and have therefore avoided it for safety [reasons]. Now with the painting, parents start asking questions and the kids see the colours and feel a little lighter.”
Tong said since the revamp project began, support and assistance from the community had been minimal but effective. He said people could still assist in donating paint or concrete to keep the ramps in top condition.
Details: Joe Tong 079 191 3776.
