Equipment donation keeps young skateboarders rolling
Michael Myles (back left) and Troy Jacob at Black Pearl Skate Park with after-school programme students and some of the donated equipment
(CNS): A local tourism-related company has donated equipment to the Cayman Islands Skateboarding Association (CISA) which runs the Black Pearl Skate Park in Grand Harbour, enabling more young people to use the facilities at one time.
EnjoyCayman.ky donated the 18 scooters and two skateboards which will be used by the increasing number of students who attend CISA’s after-school programmes. Demand for the equipment had outstripped supply so the donation will reduce the wait and increase playing time.
The non-profit CISA works with youth after-school programmes and hosts events from public as well as private schools. The association’s mission is “to maintain a world-class skate park in the Cayman Islands; to keep the park a healthy, safe environment, free of graffiti and litter, while fostering self-confidence, good health, strength and pride with the youth of our islands.”
In May 2013, the skate park was taken over by CISA, chaired by Michael Myles, who is known in the community for his work as the Ministry of Education’s at-risk youth officer. To ensure the park was fully utilised, the association welcomed students from the public schools’ extended after-school programme and as well as from five private schools. Students who visit the skate park typically range from 4 to 12 years old, although young people up to age 18 are welcome.
Myles said his vision for the skate park is for it to “become a multi-purpose community centre focused mainly on families and to provide a venue for family activities to occur and continue in a safe and fun-filled way.”
The recent addition of lights for the skate park enables the facility to stay open a few hours longer each day, past sundown, which in turn will boost the enjoyment of families that use the park.
EnjoyCayman.ky is a video and DVD production company specialising in developing products for all of Cayman’s tourism-related businesses. Owner Troy Jacob explained why he donated the equipment.
“What Mr. Michael Myles is doing with the skate park is fantastic and is of great benefit to our young people, keeping them active in a positive way; we need more positive distractions like this for our youth these days,” he said.
“EnjoyCayman.ky is proud to partner with him and CISA in developing positive youth activities and bringing more smiles to the faces of our young children.”
For more information on the Cayman Islands Skateboard Association, visit its Facebook page.
