Batavia to celebrate rededication of Blackard Skate-n-Park

The Batavia Park District will celebrate the rededication of Blackard Skate-n-Bike Park, 411 S. River St., at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 22, with a dedication ceremony revealing of a memorial stone for Samuel Blackard, the park's namesake.

Throughout the 1960s, Blackard served as chairman of Batavia's Recreation Committee and was instrumental in the passage of a referendum to establish the park district in 1969. Blackard's daughter, Carol Blackard Cornwell, remembers her father talking about his vision for the park district. "My dad was very interested in the youth of the community and having resources for them," she said, "I remember him driving me down to the Quarry and telling me they had a lot of big plans for the park district. He said it was going to be great!"

Samuel Blackard wasn't able to see those big plans come to fruition. He died in 1970 after suffering a heart attack. Three years after his death, the park district dedicated a portion of the Clark Island Recreation Area in his honor. In 2002, a skate park was constructed there to provide more recreational opportunities. Four years later, a bike park was added to the site. The park district unofficially named the area the "Blackard Skate-n-Bike Park." The bike park was dedicated in 2007 along with the $1.2 million restoration of Clark Island; however, the ceremony was rained out.

Last year, the Blackard family approached the park district and asked to have the park rededicated for their father.

"When I come back to town and see what a great park district Batavia has and realize that my dad had a part in it, that's a wonderful thing," Cornwell said. "It's a reminder that my dad's vision endures. He would have been deeply moved by this tribute to him."

After the dedication, stay for a free skate, give-a-ways, music and concessions by Fox's on the River until 2:30 p.m. For information, call (630) 879-5235 or visit bataviaparks.org.