Dear Ace: I was driving to the skate park on McIntire the other day, but when I got there,
it was gone! Can you find out where it went?—S. Kate Urgurl
Kate: May Ace call you Kate? Well, Kate, first Ace must ask you: Do you think perhaps the park grew tired of its location, sprouted legs and retreated elsewhere? Should Ace drive around and call its name, hoping to locate it? Maybe posting notices on electric poles would do the trick. Oh, Kate. Ace apologizes. He just had to poke a little fun at you.
Now that that’s out of the way, regrettably, Ace must confirm that the skate park on McIntire has been taken down. But, never fear! According to Van Johnson at the department of Parks and Recreation, it will return. As he said, the “old, rotten equipment” has been removed, thanks to the help of some kind-hearted UVA fraternities, and will be replaced by the new furnishings, which are on their way.
What a relief! Ace has always said (to himself and those who wonder those sorts of things) that if he were to interest himself in one of the lesser mainstream sports (like air hockey or bull fighting), it would most certainly be skateboarding. Why, it’s almost seductive the way the skaters swoop from one side of the ramp to the other. And, if Ace does say so himself (which he does, of course, accompanied by countless others), he looks pretty handsome in a hat, which means helmets would pose zero threat to his attractiveness.
Plus, think of all the potential nicknames: Ace “Well, Push Me Down And Skin My Knee” Atkins. Ace “He’s Just A Sk8er Boi” Atkins. Big, bad, brave Ace Atkins. Or, his personal favorite, Ace “Check Out This Ramp” Atkins. The possibilities are limitless.
As of right now, the park is set to reopen April 26, which gives Ace just enough time to order his custom kneepads and emboss his skateboard with Tony Hawk paraphernalia. Until then, you can catch Ace “This Ain’t No Half-Pipe” Atkins on the flip side.
The park is set to reopen April 26, which gives Ace just enough time to order his custom kneepads.
You can ask Ace yourself. Intrepid investigative reporter Ace Atkins has been chasing readers’ leads for 18 years. If you have a question for Ace, e-mail it to ace@c-ville.com.
