Tony Hawk to deliver Keynote Address at 2011 National Recreation and Parks Association Congress today
The California-based 12-time skateboarding world champion and philanthropist, Tony Hawk, has arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is to deliver a Keynote speech to parks and recreation officials at the 2011 National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) Congress on Tuesday, November 1.
With thousands of municipal park directors to be in attendance at the three-day 2011 Congress, the 43-year-old Hawk will have an opportunity to communicate directly with the municipal-park decision makers and convey his message regarding the significance of skateparks and the various communities that would benefit from them.
There are few who can compare to Hawk’s knowledge about skateboarding as he had ruled the skate competitions for over a decade and continues to contribute to the progression of the sport through his non-profit organisation, Tony Hawk Foundation. This undoubtedly makes him one of the most qualified candidates to speak on matters pertaining to the sport.
The CEO of the non-profit NRPA, Barbara Tulipane, referred to Hawk and his numerous contributions to skateboarding as truly inspiration and felt that the efforts of Tony Hawk Foundation and NRPA were playing a significant role in enhancing the lives of people by providing them with parks where they could go to relax, exercise or enjoy the sport.
Hawk is eager to capitalise on the unprecedented opportunity to get the ball rolling for the communities which are still deprived of a skatepark. In order to bring the NRPA onboard, Hawk plans on joining hands with International Association of Skateboard Companies and Skate for Public Skateparks to conduct a skatepark development seminar.
"I have seen what good can come from working with youth and communities across the country to bring skateparks into neighbourhoods," says Hawk. "Park and recreation professionals and agencies play a critical role in making it all happen and we must ensure we can continue to work together to bring communities, especially youth, ways to be active and healthy."
Hawk’s Foundation has already played a role in building of nearly 500 skateparks around the nation and is keen on seizing opportunities and inspiring others to join them in order to take this number even higher.
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