Etched into the concrete outside the new skatepark in Ambleside is the declarative: “Skateboarders rule the world.”
It was the mantra of Peter Sullivan, a skateboarding industry pioneer who grew up skating on the North Shore, and a driving force behind the park’s creation.
Unfortunately, the founder of Supra Distribution wasn’t there to see the grand opening in April. The 43-year-old died last summer of complications stemming from a neurological disease.
But the park has now been renamed The Peter Sullivan Skatepark by the District of West Vancouver in his honour.
“Our family is really grateful that this project was completed, and to have the parked named after Peter is just really meaningful to us because the revival was so important to him. He would have been really proud to have seen it finished,” said Louise Sullivan, Peter’s widow.
Peter founded Supra Distribution in 1999. It has gone on to become a giant in the industry, sponsoring up-and-coming kids and international professionals like Spencer Hamilton.
Peter was inspired to take the project on after taking his youngest son Owen down to the old park to skate. He saw the existing park was in a pretty sorry state, Louise said.
“That’s when he decided, without hesitation, he wanted to make this happen,” Louise said.
Peter spent two years lobbying the district and fundraising from his colleagues and competitors alike. In the end, that resulted in almost a third of the $375,000 budget being covered.
“My goal for that is just to try and give back. Skateboarding’s been very good to me and I’ve been able to create a business,” Sullivan told the North Shore News in 2014.
“He always wanted to give back to our community, as a businessman and as a father. He was really grateful to be raising our kids in such a wonderful place. He just wanted a place for locals to be able to skate and enjoy, just like he did when he was younger. He was just really passionate about seeing this project through,” Louise said. “He loved the site. He thought the Ambleside location was amazing.
That picturesque park with an equally beautiful skatepark design, he thought it would be the perfect combination.”
District council recently announced the renaming after voting on it behind closed doors.
“West Vancouver is a strong community because of people like Peter Sullivan,” said Mayor Michael Smith. “Naming the park after him honours his generosity and willingness to help others, and for us it’s an honour that a district facility bears his name.”
More than making the park a destination for locals, Peter also hoped it would become a hotspot in the skate industry. That’s something it’s on its way to achieving, Louise said.
“It’s very busy. Right now it’s one of the busiest in the Lower Mainland, for sure. I’ve definitely been told by skateboarders it’s an amazing park and they love skating it,” she said.
