Pro skateboarding legend Tony Hawk has submitted a request asking the city of Garland to rename its Boneyard Skate Park after the late local adaptive skateboarder Jon Comer.
Comer grew up in south Garland, where he was hit by a car while riding his bike as a child and eventually had his foot amputated. He found skateboarding at the age of 12 and turned pro as an adaptive skateboarder, which allows participants to adjust their equipment due to physical disabilities, in 1997 at the age of 21.
He was an integral part of the rise of adaptive action sports and bringing the events into the X-Games. He was also the focus of a 2004 documentary called Never Been Done: The Jon Comer Story, in which Hawk and other pro skaters appeared.
Comer died in 2019 at the age of 43.
Hawk released a video on YouTube calling for the city to consider changing the park’s name.
Hawk said in the video that it was an honor and privilege to have known Comer and skate with him for almost a decade. He went on to say that Comer was a “pioneer in skating” and an “inspiring individual” and ended his plea to the city council by saying, “It would solidify his legacy, and it would be an inspiration for other skaters in years to come. To honor him in his hometown of Garland, Texas, would be huge … Please keep his legacy alive.”
The Boneyard opened in October 2022 as part of a renovation effort to make Rick Oden Park more appealing to families. Other renovations included additional walking trails, a new baseball complex, permanent restrooms and pavilions, and a food truck park.
The skatepark has three areas designed to appeal to skaters of all ages and skill levels: a street/plaza area, a beginners’ area, and a bowl and transition area.
It is the second-largest skatepark in Texas at 46,000 square feet.
When asked for comment, the City of Garland told The Dallas Express, “The item is under review and consideration by the Garland City Council. Right now, there’s no timeline as to when it will be placed on the agenda.”
