Monty and Sarah Bennett, co-founders of The Dallas Express, recently donated $25,000 to a skate park project in Oak Cliff.
“On January 15, 2024, Monty and Sarah Bennett, along with Ashford Group of Companies, contributed $25,000 to the Oak Cliff Skatepark private fundraising endeavor,” said Council Member Chad West, who represents Oak Cliff in District 1, in a statement released on Tuesday.
“This contribution represents the largest single donation made to date for the first skateboard park proposed for South Dallas and first Dallas skateboard park seeking public and private funds,” West added.
The proposed skate park location is Westmoreland Park, as reported by the Oak Cliff Advocate.
“Monty and I are staunch advocates for investing in parks and fostering environments that support active lifestyles for all, recognizing the profound impact such initiatives can have on enhancing community well-being,” said Sarah Bennett in a statement to The Dallas Express. “Skateboarding, once a symbol of counterculture, has gracefully transitioned into a recognized Olympic sport, demonstrating its universal appeal and inclusivity.”
“The relatively affordable entry costs to skating make it an accessible and enriching pursuit for individuals across various age groups,” she continued. “We are grateful to be able to support this!”
Skate Parks for Dallas founder Clinton Haley told The Dallas Express he was “thrilled” about the Bennetts’ donation.
“I learned Sarah Bennett was a fundraiser for the YMCA and understands the importance of recreation for all ages. She also grew up in El Paso, where she experienced firsthand the positive benefits of public skateparks, including the exercise, but also the camaraderie that pervades the skatepark communities,” he said in an emailed statement.
Haley said the donated funds will “go toward the construction of the skatepark.”
“The Oak Cliff Skatepark already has a design, and Councilmember Chad West has championed two fundraisers and an Oak Cliff Skate Demo to raise awareness and funds for the Oak Cliff Skatepark,” he said.
Haley added that a fundraiser for the project is taking place on January 24 at Birdie’s Eastside, 6221 E. Mockingbird Ln., and tickets are still available.
“Our goal is to raise $400K, which the City will match, in order to expedite the building of phase 1 of the skatepark,” he said. “With the Bennetts’ generous donation, we are at about $100K now!”
Parks and green space have been one of Mayor Eric Johnson’s top priorities and have become a top-line item in the 2024 Bond Fund, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
“This really is the golden era of parks for the City of Dallas right now,” the mayor said recently.
One of the most recent steps in the City’s progress toward developing more parks and green space was the Trust for Public Land’s unveiling of five new locations for future parks.
