ST. THOMAS — Concrete waves are rolling into St. Thomas as the Virgin Islands Board Sports Federation broke ground Tuesday at Ezra Fredericks Ball Park on a multiuse skate and bike park, complete with a playground and shade structure.
Around 30 people showed up, including parents and children, as skaters grabbed their decks and dug into the gravel — clearing a major gap forward in creating a community-centered space in the Estate Frydenhoj park where skaters and locals can unite.
“Here we are, in the neighborhood of about a million dollars raised in not only monetary donations but in-kind contributions as well,” Jon Gazi, VIBSF president, said.
A skate park in St. Thomas has been a dream for Gazi and local skaters for nearly 25 years. Things started rolling on March 10, 2020, when entertainer Benny Demus set up a meeting between the VIBSF and then-Sports, Parks, and Recreation Commissioner Calvert White.
“But that was two days before the world shut down,” Gazi said, referring to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus may have stalled the action, but the VIBSF kept grinding to get the park built.
Meanwhile, an unofficial crew called Skate Thomas was doing more than dropping in — they were building a tight-knit skate community. For years, they have been hosting weekly Tuesday night sessions, aptly named “Bananas at Annas,” turning the Annas Retreat basketball courts into a skate paradise with food, music, and good vibes.
“It caught some attention to where the commissioner reached out and said, ‘I think we have a location for you guys — Ezra Fredericks Park,’” Gazi said.
Skate Thomas has done amazing work, Alex Israel, VIBSF project lead and treasurer, said.
Israel jumped on board immediately, helping register the VIBSF as a nonprofit organization and rallying the community to raise funds, according to Gazi.
“One hundred percent of the funds are coming from our nonprofit — throughout the community, businesses, and individuals — nearly all St. Thomas based,” Israel said.
Using their fundraising platform, Give Butter, the group has pulled in nearly $800,000 from donations and more through in-kind contributions from companies like Heavy Materials and the Haugland Group. The project has also received strong backing from government officials, including Governor Albert Bryan Jr.
“My commitment to building a healthier community has been supported by the many initiatives we have facilitated,” Bryan wrote in VIBSF’s fundraising proposal for the skate park. “Creating a skate and bike park on the island of St. Thomas will further support this goal and additionally provide a long-term investment in our children and families.”
Ezra Fredericks Ball Park will keep its field and basketball court. Once the project is complete, it will also feature a 15,000-square-foot concrete skate and bike park designed for beginners to advanced riders. The park will also include a 2,500-square-foot playground and a shade structure, Israel said.
“Everyone involved in skateboarding brings positive vibes,” Israel said. “It’s inclusive, expressive, and great for the body, mind, and community.”
Adriana Baird Butler, a parent who has been bringing her daughter to Skate Thomas events for the last three years, echoed that sentiment.
“We love the self-confidence, resilience, and grit that skaters embody,” Butler said. “Skating teaches you that when you fall, you get back up — an important life lesson.”
Virgin Islanders can expect to grab their boards and shred by May, with the playground being slated to open in February, and the shade structure to be completed by March, according to Israel.
