Push To Restore Peabody's Tanner City Skate Park

PEABODY, MA — Lifelong Peabody resident Steven Lobo remembers when Tanner Skate Park was the envy of skateboarders throughout the North Shore.

When it was built 20 years ago, it attracted skateboarders from throughout the region. There are YouTube videos from five, six, seven years back that include kids and adults flying up the sides and curves of the concrete river.

"At one point it was beautiful," Lobo told Patch. "There was a lot of traffic on there and kids used to go there all time."

In recent years, however, Lobo said the park has fallen into neglect with cracks in the concrete and little holes that he said act like "giant potholes" to any small skateboard or scooter wheel that happens to get caught in them.

"There are some issues of concern," Lobo said. "It's really starting to fall apart."

Lobo said Salem's recent renovation of the Brennan Skate Park gave him the push to take his concerns public with a petition he said he plans to present to city officials in hopes of spurring repairs to the park.

"At this point it's more of a hazard," he said. "It does still get used. If they rebuilt it, it could really be something nice."

Lobo created a Change.org petition that he hopes will garner support to provide "a new, safe park for our youth to enjoy positive activities during a time they need it most."

"Our mission is to rebuild the sections of the park that are damaged and to also add lights to ensure safety for all that enter after dark," the petition states.

The petition was up to 186 signatures as of Tuesday night with several people commenting about how much they enjoyed the park when they were younger.

Lobo said his biggest concerns are the railings and ledges that have become dislodged from the ground due to weathering and lack of maintenance.

"I've been thinking about this for quite some time," he said. "Seeing Salem, and what they were able to do, that was what gave me the motivation to start something. … Or at least try."

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Lobo said skateboarding is a sport that is once again gaining popularity among children and adults, citing that is has even been added to the Olympics.

"It is a positive sport," he said. "Kids are getting into all kinds of things these days — drinking and drugs.

"We need to bring something positive back to the community."

Lobo's petition can be found here.

Related Patch Content: Brennan Skatepark A Newly Renovated Shredder's Paradise In Salem