Natomas skate park to be officially renamed after Tyre Nichols
SACRAMENTO — City leaders on Tuesday approved a plan to rename a Natomas skate park after Sacramento native Tyre Nichols.
The 29-year-old died nearly three months ago after he was beaten by Memphis police during a traffic stop back in January.
Nichols spent a lot of time skating at Regency Park in north Natomas when he was younger. Now, the skate park will be named after him — Tyre Nichols Skate Park.
Lisa Kaplan, the council member for District 1, said the city is also partnering with the Tony Hawk Foundation to make improvements to the park. The Skate Park Project is an organization, headed by Hawk, that works to improve skateparks across the country.
The city has also allocated $20,000 toward the improvements. But it's the message behind it that means the most.
"So that he is remembered as that bright light and that future generations can learn that we as a society can do better," Kaplan said.
Councilmember Kaplan's proposal states the name change is within the city naming policy. The naming or renaming of a city park must meet one of several criteria. In this case, park leaders accelerated the process under the naming policy noting Nichols' connection and contribution to the community.
No one knows that more than Ryan Wilson, a friend of Tyre who used to skate there with him.
"I want to skate as if he was sort of there with me, with his presence in mind," Wilson said.
The city says it also plans to use funding to place a bronze plaque at the park in Tyre's honor.
