virgil abloh's freedom skatepark in ghana is closing after two years

the uncertain future of Virgil Abloh’s skatepark in ghana

Two years after its grand debut, Virgil Abloh’s Freedom Skatepark in Accra, Ghana, is facing closure. According to an Instagram post by designer and stylist Wole Olosunde, the park, described as ‘the very first fully functional skate park’ in the area, has been inaccessible for almost a full year due to contractor issues. This unfortunate development has sparked concerns about the future of the project, one of the last projects that Abloh worked on before he passed away in 2021.

the Freedom Skatepark | image courtesy of Freedom Skatepark via @surfghana

Freedom Skatepark’s Struggle Against Closure

As Wole Olosunde highlights in his post, the skatepark has remained vacant for an extended period due to another owner barricading it with a cement wall to deter skaters. Surf Ghana, the African skating collective behind the park, confirms this information, revealing in a comment that they’ve been unable to use the space for almost nine months. ‘Regrettably, we have encountered acts of sabotage, and we are still searching for the necessary support to either regain access to our space or potentially find a new location,’ they share. According to Olosunde, in response to these challenges, local skaters have taken initiative, constructing their makeshift skate park. This temporary setup allows them to continue fostering the skateboarding community and spreading the joy of skating. The park is attached to Vibrate Space, a community center that offers free Wi-Fi, free masterclasses, and free studio recording for the youth of Accra.

Olosunde concludes his post with evident frustration, wondering why no one is talking about the situation. ‘Now what truly angered me is that Virgil worked so hard to raise money to help get this done before he passed, and nobody is even talking about its closure,’ he says. ‘VA did so much for the world in his time here; why can’t anyone do this for him? (…) This post is a challenge to those ‘in charge’ to do better,’ he adds.

the park faces closure just two years after its opening | image courtesy of Freedom Skatepark via @surfghana