It Takes a Village Skatepark

Library Street Collective has joined forces with professional skateboarder Tony Hawk as well as artist McArthur Binion to create a permanent skatepark located on the grounds of the Shepherd, in partnership with the nonprofit community organization Jefferson East, Inc. Beyond skateboarding, the park will be a gathering space for the East Village and the greater Detroit community. With the help of NewLine Skateparks, Hawk led the functional design of the park, while Binion oversaw elements of the artistic design. It was in 2017 that Library Street Collective first collaborated with Hawk to design and produce an art installation and skatepark in downtown Detroit—this being just one of various skatepark projects Hawk has spearheaded throughout the city over the years. With family ties in Detroit and a passion for the city’s distinctive skate culture, Hawk looks forward to continuing to activate the local community with this latest advancement. The development is made possible through the support of the 70+ artists who generously participated in Library Street Collective’s Skatepark Fundraiser exhibition It Takes a Village (September 2, 2022).