Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk surprised hundreds of skaters, community members and City Councilmember Kwanza Hall, at Saturday’s Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark opening, one of three parks opening this summer as part of the Atlanta BeltLine redevelopment project.

The park opening is the culmination of a multi-year partnership between the community, city government, the Atlanta BeltLine and the private and nonprofit sectors.

The Tony Hawk Foundation donated $25,000 towards the development of Atlanta’s first skatepark, which boasts a wide range of features including a street course, beginner, intermediate and expert skater bowls; open fields for picnicking and recreation.

For more about the BeltLine and the park, visit www.beltline.org.

Collin Kelley is the executive editor of Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, and the Rough Draft newsletter. He has been a journalist for nearly four decades and is also an award-winning poet and novelist.