PAVE (Promoting a Vision for Effingham County) is excited to work with Deano Tull, local skateboarder, and organizer of the Ham City Jam skateboard competition, to support his efforts to rejuvenate the skatepark. Deano’s passion for skateboarding radiates through his work with the skatepark and the lives he’s already touched through this journey.
Always Hard Concrete out of St. Louis, MO is gearing up to renovate the skatepark at Hendelmeyer Park starting in late April. Always Hard Concrete is a company started by skateboarders for skateboarders. As their website says, “What started as a group of skateboarders in need of a safe space to enjoy their sport, quickly turned into the dream of bringing communities together across the country.”
The new skatepark will be made of concrete and built to high standards to host events and provide an elevated experience for all those who utilize it. The rejuvenation will include many different sized quarter pipe ramps, several rails and ledges for all levels, a China Bank with a ledge, a round bank, a 3’ tall taco, and more!
The existing skatepark is made of metal and still functional. Tull is working with Pana, IL to donate two ramps to help with their new skate park and is in contact with Taylorville, IL as they are also working on building a skatepark. The hope is to not let the materials go to waste and be able to help surrounding towns provide opportunities to their youth and community as a whole. The skatepark has created a new community within Effingham and Tull would love to see similar things happen throughout the region.
The new skate park should be ready just in time for this year’s Ham City Jam starting Saturday, July 22nd. Effingham will be full of things to do with EffingHAM-JAM on Friday, July 21st followed by Ham City Jam the next day. It’ll be a great weekend to be outside and experience all the new things happening in the community.
Tull has done a fantastic job raising funds and spending his own time and money to make the skate park successful, and he’s always looking for donations.
If you are interested in learning more about the skate park and/or Ham City Jam, please contact Deano Tull at 217-994-3719 or Dcredbull@hotmail.com. You can also find more information at https://effinghamparkdistrict.org/about-us/capital-projects/skate-park/