Gadsden council hears pleas to save longtime "Skate Slab," discusses design funds and property offer

At a Gadsden City Council meeting, local skateboarders urged the council to preserve a volunteer-built skate area known in the community as the "Skate Slab," saying the private property that hosts it is slated for demolition and that the owner has offered to donate the site to the city.

The request drew a show of support from several council members and a unanimous vote to suspend council rules so one of the skaters could speak during the meeting. Councilman Wilson said he had received approval that morning to use some available city funds to proceed with a design for a permanent skate park, but said any construction costs would still need council approval.

The petitioners — who describe themselves as volunteers who built and maintain ramps and features over the past decade — told the council the slab functions as a community space where young people gather, learn skills and avoid unsafe street skating. Tristan, one of the speakers, said the site is “a safe space where kids can go instead of being on the streets.” Michael Twedt, another longtime user, said the slab has been a local fixture for years: “That’s the name of it. It’s called the slab.” The group reported more than 500 signatures on an online petition to save the spot.

Council members described various next steps rather than taking immediate formal action. Councilman Wilson said the owner had recently offered the property to the city and that he would check with the building department about any abatement or nuisance proceedings; he encouraged the administration to consider accepting the donation, noting the city’s recreation indemnification policies could limit liability. Councilman Avery and others proposed that the volunteer skaters be included in any design process; multiple councillors suggested forming a committee to guide design and outreach.

Council members and speakers also referenced the history of skateboarding in Gadsden, noting a private Flying Wheels Skate Park that operated in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Several council members suggested the city could build a new facility that incorporates the existing slab and its heritage.

The council did not vote to accept the property or commit construction funds at the meeting. Next steps described on the dais were: city staff will investigate the property’s legal and nuisance status; councilmembers will explore the administrative process for accepting donated property; and councilman Wilson said he had preliminary approval to use some funds for a design phase, subject to formal council approval of any budget request.

The discussion returned later in the meeting when the mayor and other council members reiterated support for recreation projects that serve a broad cross-section of residents, including future BMX and alternative-sports facilities.