Two Grey Hills, New Mexico – The Diné Skate Garden Project hosted the official World Opening celebration Monday for the Two Grey Hills Skatepark, an inclusive public skatepark and community space that was conceived by Diné-owned sustainable artwear brand 4KINSHIP and built with support from members of the community. With support from partners including Tony Hawk’s organization, The Skatepark Project, the #DinéSkateGardenProject is intended to support and empower the next generation of Diné (Navajo) skateboarders.
The World Opening launched the Diné Skate Garden as an empowering gathering place for outdoor recreation and reflection for generations to come. During the event, more than 200 Diné community members and leaders including Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren – who is himself an avid skater – gathered for an unforgettable morning.
“There’s creativity, there’s problem solving, there’s networking, there’s building up your mindset, building your ability to be a person – there’s so much teaching in skateboarding that I still use today,” said Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren. “I just want to say thank you so much to Tony Hawk, The Skatepark Project, the people that donated every single dollar and the leadership that went into making this park possible. Not only is it going to help these children, the young children – some of them are without their grandparents, some of them are without their moms, their dads, some of them are being raised by their relatives – but this park will bring them together, this park will bring them so much opportunity to learn from the art of skateboarding.”
Diné children lined up to meet with renowned skater Tony Hawk and Diné skater and artist Di’Orr Greenwood. Diné skate mentors – Shawn Harrison, Peyton Alex, and owners of the Enchantment Skate Shop – provided mentorship and coaching to the visiting youth throughout the day, building confidence and teaching new skate skills alongside pro skaters John Gardner and Louie Lopez.
Greenwood presented gifts to Hawk and President Nygren to welcome them to the Two Grey Hills Skatepark – beautiful bespoke skate decks she designed and handmade in their honor.
To kick off the celebration, the Tohaali Native American Club sang traditional songs, their voices echoing throughout the skatepark and surrounding hills. Community members enjoyed local native foods provided by Diné-owned Juniper Café, and Diné artist Neon NativeZ provided the soundtrack for the day. There were live art activations with Diné skate mentor Peyton Alex, who was spray painting kids’ boards and Di’Orr Greenwood, who had some of her pieces on display for the kids to interact with.
Tony Hawk and President Nygren addressed the crowd with moving remarks about the power of skateboarding and the role the sport played in their personal and professional lives. Following their remarks, they took the opportunity to skate the park alongside the young Diné skaters who will call it home for years to come.
“Today, I had the privilege of meeting the talented, passionate Diné skaters who share a love for skateboarding that has guided many of us throughout our lives,” said Tony Hawk, founder of The Skatepark Project. “Skateboarding is a powerful tool for building a strong sense of community, creativity, and determination. The gifts that skateboarding has brought to my life are countless, and It’s an honor to share these gifts with the Two Grey Hills chapter of the Navajo Nation. I had a blast skating with local Diné kids and can’t wait to see what the future holds now that they have a safe space to skate together.”
The Diné Skate Garden Project was conceived as a celebration of the strength of the community of “Tóhaaliní” (Where the Water Flows Out) located in the Toadlena/Two Grey Hills chapter of the Navajo Nation. This Diné community is nestled in the Chuska Mountains between Shiprock and Gallup. In this remote area of Navajo Nation there previously was no public recreation space to safely gather; during the pandemic this was especially hard on the children and young residents in the community. In recognition of their resilience in the face of a pandemic that had a devastating impact on the Navajo Nation, the Diné Skate Garden Project is committed to the health and wellness of future generations of Diné people who for centuries have shown incredible strength in the face of adversity.
“Today is a day that every kid, parent, Auntie and Uncle, Shimá and Cheii, teacher, mentor, and tribal official can celebrate our community project that was powered by heart and the commitment to honor the land and our ancestors, by creating a transformative space for future generations to thrive in the sport of skateboarding,” said Amy Denet Deal, founder of 4Kinship.
4Kinship officially launched the Diné Skate Garden Project officially in 2021 with the help of Jewel Kilcher and the Inspiring Children Foundation. The first phase of the project, the 7,400 square-foot skatepark, was completed in Fall of 2022 with volunteer builders from Wonders Around the World and 5th Pocket Skate Parks.
In addition to The Skatepark Project, Inspiring Children Foundation, Wonders Around the World and 5th Pocket Skate Parks, organizations including Ginew, DC Shoes, Vans, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), Dig Deep, and World Central Kitchen lent invaluable support and partnership to bring the Diné Skate Garden Project to the community.
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