Redefining Urban Spaces: A unique blend of skate culture & community development

What began as an abandoned 17,000-square-foot warehouse filled with junk has transformed into a vibrant community hub. Photo by Lentheus Chaney/The Atlanta VoiceVillage Skate Park ATL, founded in 2021, was birthed from the community-driven endeavor of Takarai Aart. As a seasoned BMX rider, Takarai saw a unique opportunity to integrate action sports into the fabric of his local community, although the indoor facility lacked the street visibility he desired.From the age of 13, Takarai found his second home in skate parks, which sparked his dream of creating a similar space for others. Leveraging his background in construction and his earnings from various projects, he invested everything he had into building& Village Skate Park ATL.“[Skate parks] kind of changed the trajectory of my life. I learned that you can make money from it, and I pursued it as a career for a while,” Takarai said. “When I moved to Atlanta, I started working with development groups, and that turned into the opportunity to have a building.”Photo by Lentheus Chaney/The Atlanta VoiceVelnice Aart, Takarai’s wife, played a significant role in the evolution of the skate park. Initially unfamiliar with skateboarding culture, she embraced it alongside the birth of their son, Life, who...