The nearing closure of the Black Pearl Skate Park has left many in the community devastated, including Senior Police Constable Stephen Myers and his family, who helped many at-risk youth over the years through the facility.
Myers, describing the closure of the skate park as “an absolute shame”, said Cayman has lost an important tool in the fight to turn around the lives of at-risk youth using sporting activities like skateboarding.
“This skate park had the opportunity of bringing some of those talents out and actually having them going into the mainstream, being famous, having their own shoes [brand], having their own clothing [line] … the possibilities were endless,” he said in a recent interview with the Cayman Compass.
Myers, who is based at the West Bay police station, recounted when he first started the after-school programme at the John A Cumber Primary School in West Bay to help kids learn to skate and keep fit.
“It’s a very sad thing that this park is going. I just wish that people saw what this park is. It’s a fantastic tool that kids can work on. They can lose weight, which is one of the problems here in Cayman at the moment because no kids are going outside,” Myers said.
He said the excitement of the children and their enthusiasm helped him carry on through the years when he worked with the after-school programme.
Fond memories
The memories of driving young skaters to and from the park in the police bus, he said, will remain with him, but it was the life changes he witnessed firsthand when he worked with the kids through the early 2000s that made the effort worth it.
“I just saw the benefit for the kids. Some of the kids now are business owners. Some of those kids are lawyers. Some of those kids have gone to prison, I must admit. But for the majority of them, they’ve all been influenced by skateboarding. It did something for them. It gave them that camaraderie where they’re all still friends,” he said.
Myers, a skateboarder himself, also taught kids in his backyard using makeshift ramps. His own children, Brian, Sean and Juliana, also grew up with the sport, learning at home and at the skate park.
“During that time, I had skaters from West Bay and around Savannah, Newlands … different places coming to my house to skate. So I had a perfect situation where I was keeping them off the street and they were having fun at the same time. Then at the park we had hundreds of kids each day,” he said.
Myers said his efforts in his backyard to grow the love for skating was also featured by professional skater Mike Vallely during an interview for Fuel TV.
Life-changing tool
The kids who went through the after-school programme, he said, now have kids of their own and they’re teaching them to skate too.
“We have a long history and I have fond memories of this place,” he said, adding that it was “fantastic” to see the progress of the children while they were skating and then later on in life.
His daughter Juliana, who is also the reigning Miss World Imperial Cayman Islands, said she is still trying to process the coming closure of the skate park.
“It’s special to me because pretty much every day of my childhood, I remember [being in the park]. If there is any memory I have, it is in this skate park for sure,” she said.
Though the closure of the skate park is difficult, she said, “It did not come as a shock.”
“Sadly, skate culture has died in Cayman, so I knew eventually it would come to an end of some sort,” she said.
Stephen Myers said he believes Cayman has the talent for the sport of skateboarding, but it is not being cultivated.
He fears the loss of the skate park could mean the end of the sport here.
“If we get kids coming home with medals, everybody will be proud. It’s something right to do for the Caymanian children and there is the talent here on this island, absolutely. But we just have to dig deep and get that talent out and with some perseverance, we’ll get it,” he said.
Myers’s son Sean said it hurts him to know the skate park is going away and he wished that there was some way to save it.
“Really and truly, this is where I grew up. This is all I knew growing up,” he said.
Sean said he loved skateboarding and recalled fond memories of meeting many professional skateboarders at the park.
Sean said that while he enjoyed being at the park following his passion, it was the bonds that he built within the skate community that meant the most to him.
“It made a brotherhood. A lot of people I see on the street [or] when I go out to the supermarket or something, we just catch up and have a conversation. We made a lot of bonds and friendships,” he said.
He said he is hopeful that the sport won’t die.
“I hope that more people get involved in it and the skate community comes together as one and tries to organise something to be built, or I hope government gives us a piece of land that we can start building something on,” he said.
His father said he too hopes that whatever replaces the skate park will include a calisthenics park so kids can at least have somewhere to stay healthy and play.
The skate park closes on 30 Aug.
Related Videos
A Call to Action: Save the Black Pearl Skate Park!
Rest in peace, Mr. Mike Bell, a visionary whose passion brought to life the Black Pearl Skate Park, a second home for so many children in the Cayman Islands, including my own. This incredible facility isn’t just a place to skate; it is a vibrant community hub that has fostered friendships, confidence, and a love for the sport that has inspired countless young skaters.
Every afternoon, my wife Maritza and I would watch as our children and their friends flocked to the park with beaming smiles, ready to unleash their inner potential. Hundreds of kids came weekly, all eager to learn and hone their skills. They looked up to mentors like Mr. Philip Berry, who generously shared tricks and techniques, transforming doubts into achievements.
I took it upon myself to teach the first crucial move every skater needed—dropping in. I witnessed countless children face their fears, overcoming challenges that once seemed impossible. Through perseverance and practice, they conquered their anxieties, transforming obstacles into triumphs. Each success story reflected the very essence of what this park was built upon—a foundation of resilience and community support.
I initially began a journey with the children from John A. Cumber Primary School, filling the bus each week, excitement palpable in the air. Every stop was a small adventure, picking up my daughter Juliana from Tiffany’s Preschool before making our way to the park. The joy of arriving was electric; the laughter and camaraderie created lifelong bonds among parents and young skaters alike.
Sean, my son, exemplified this spirit. He won a trip to Woodward through Red Bull, showcasing his skill at the camp. They were impressed and invited him back! Sean also made his mark internationally, representing the Cayman Islands at the historic Kona Skatepark in Jacksonville, Florida, and securing second place in a competition in the UK.
The acclaim wasn’t limited to our family; professional skateboarders visited our island and spoke glowingly of the park. They reveled in the vibrant environment that Black Pearl offered—a space where everyone, regardless of experience, found acceptance.
Now, I urge the Cayman Islands Government to recognize the profound benefits of what was once the largest skatepark in the world. If properly maintained and utilized, this world-class facility has the potential to nurture top-tier athletes, putting the Cayman Islands on the global skateboarding map. The skate culture is a close-knit community that bridges all divides, promoting unity through passion—where judgment is left at the gate and the spirit of skating reigns supreme.
Skating cultivates essential life skills: problem-solving, coordination, balance, and confidence. For many young people, such an outlet is critical, especially in an age where obesity and health issues plague our next generation. The park is a sanctuary where children can gather to exercise, have fun, and experience the great outdoors—all while building lifelong friendships.
During our time at the park, I witnessed an extraordinary bond form between skaters and law enforcement. A police officer who genuinely cared for the community became approachable, breaking down barriers and fostering trust. Many young skaters were inspired by these interactions, even choosing to become police officers themselves later on.
Let us not forget the potential for tourism and community engagement that lies within the Black Pearl Skate Park. By revitalizing this space, we could host professional skating events that attract visitors from all over. The Department of Tourism previously initiated SKATE CAYMAN, and with a dedicated effort, it can thrive once more!
In conclusion, I call upon everyone in the Cayman Islands and beyond to rally together to Save the Black Pearl Skate Park! Let your voice be heard; advocate for this incredible facility that shapes lives and builds destinies.
The time for action is now. Join us in preserving this invaluable gem for our children and generations to come. Together, let’s ensure that the Black Pearl Skate Park continues to flourish, fostering the passion and potential of every young skater who walks through its gates. Let’s make a commitment to our future—because every child deserves a place to dream, learn, and grow!