1999.

“Skateboarding and the skatepark in Amesbury has a long, rich history. Beginning in the 1980’s, before it was a skatepark, local kids would drag wooden ramps and creatively assemble other “junk” on the tennis courts. All this just to provide their own creative environment to practice and share in something they loved. Fast forward to the mid 90’s, the cracked old tennis courts were replaced with fresh asphalt and the town of Amesbury had a real skatepark. Unfortunately at the time Amesbury was just one of many New England towns sold on a prefabricated skatepark built by generic construction companies. Local skateboarders have continued to make the best of it and rode the hell out of the park for many years.”

-Tom Dupere: Artist, Builder, and native citizen of Amesbury

2001.

“In 2001 the city of Newburyport built one of the first poured in place concrete skateparks with the help of local Amesbury skateboarders, who since then have gone on to build skateparks all over the country and internationally. For almost thirty years there has been a strong “Do it yourself” ethos within the skateboarding community; this encourages ourselves to provide our own places to skate. In the last dozen or so years, the local skaters of Amesbury have continued to take it upon themselves to design, fund, and build new and exciting features at the existing skatepark whenever possible.”

-Tom Dupere: Artist, Builder, and native citizen of Amesbury

2018.

“2018 sparked the partnership with The Brian Eldredge Memorial Skatepark non-profit. Brian Eldredge was a local skater who grew up riding the park. Since then, we have managed to rebuild 5000 sq ft with brand new, poured in place concrete. We are currently raising funds for a 8000 sq ft phase 2. “

“I remember it was a few months after Brian had died. We heard about a skatepark fundraiser at Flatbreads and all agreed it would be a great place to go show support. Brian lived there growing up.. we knew he’d be happy knowing our money was going back to his community. Then the idea of naming the skatepark after him was brought to our mom and we all agreed that it would be the perfect place to go to remember him. That place is alive and happy. He deserves that.”

-Kristen Eldredge, Brian’s sister