Handing the scissors to his daughter, Justin Kerr let her cut the ribbon to officially open the Emry Skatepark on Wednesday.
“I’m glad I got it done in time for her to really grow up there,” said Kerr, who led a grassroots fundraising effort to turn the dilapidated tennis courts at Emry Park into a facility where children like his daughter, Layla, can learn skateboarding.
Brightspeed, an internet service provider which donated $15,000 to the project, sponsored the opening day ceremony. “Neighbors, skaters, city leaders, and businesses worked together to transform an underused space into a place where young riders and families can gather,” said Steve Brewer, the company’s director of government affairs and public policy. “At Brightspeed, we’re honored to play a role in helping that vision cross the finish line.”
While the company is known as an ISP, he said, “We also believe connection goes beyond technology. It’s about supporting the places and spaces that bring people together. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation, Justin Kerr, and dedicated local businesses and residents to help make the skatepark a reality.”
Mayor Emery Doughtie said, “I’m thrilled to be here today as we celebrate this opening of the community-driven skatepark. It’s a project that brings new energy to our community and pride to the city of Roanoke Rapids.”
Spaces like the skatepark can help connect neighbors, the mayor said. “Whether you’re skating, or watching, or simply enjoying the park together, we’re very grateful to everyone who helped to make this possible — the skaters, the bikers, and those who will bring this park to life every day.”
Doughtie said while he never doubted the concept could be done when Kerr pitched it to the council, he admitted, “I knew he had a mammoth task. He has never wavered. He set his mind to it. I think the community backed him to help us to be able to get to this point.”
The mayor described the park as a very fine facility. “It’s not just thrown up haphazardly. It’s a facility that, in my opinion, will be beneficial to the community — not only for skateboarding and whatever activity you can do on that court, but there’ll be a lot of conversations over here between youth, young adults, and small children, and mentors. People can give them that guidance.”
Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Daughtry said the park began with the residents. “They led the efforts. Justin Kerr has been instrumental in that. We were really trying to repurpose the unused tennis courts to make it a more inclusive recreational space. Without the support of the city of Roanoke Rapids and local businesses like MJ Price Construction, Brightspeed, and community donors like Servpro — it took every single one of them to be able to make this happen.”
Kerr’s vision and the community sponsors gave the project momentum, Daughtry said. “It just shows what working together can do.”
Kerr thanked the community for coming together and supporting the project. “It means a whole lot to me to finally get this done. This is definitely a dream of mine.”
Kerr credited Jennifer Edwards of Riverbend Events for creating the myriad of fundraising events that led to the completion of the park.
Edwards said she had been working on events since Kerr approached her in 2023. “Servpro and Tracy Story really helped us. They gave us the initial boost and then the community followed after that. It’s been amazing seeing all the people that have contributed to this — the small businesses, the vendors, the food trucks.”
Edwards said the efforts demonstrate “that if you care about your community and you’re willing to work hard, you can accomplish a lot of good things.”
David Redwine and Nick Miller came from Durham to skate and listen to the opening ceremony.
“I think it’s incredible,” Redwine said. “This is something that should happen in more communities.”
While the park is small, Redwine said, “It’s still very inviting and important to communities.”
“I really love it, too,” Miller said. “The small-scale stuff needs to be put into more cities.”
He said skateparks like this one are more forgiving and make it easier to progress in the sport.
For Kerr, it’s been an uphill battle. “But we got it done. I’m glad that I had my little girl here with me.”
He is following through with his plans to help teach youngsters skateboarding, and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., he will have sessions with loaner boards available. “If you want to come out and learn, we’ll be here. We’re here to help. We’re just looking to make a good, positive, inclusive environment out here.”
There were times throughout the project that the effort became discouraging. “But I said I was going to do it. I felt like I stood up in front of everybody and gave them my word. I wanted to come through on that because I knew this was something that would have a positive impact on the community.”
