Travis Scott has pledged to revive the beloved Freedom Skatepark in Accra, Ghana, originally established by the late Virgil Abloh before his passing in November 2021. The cherished skatepark, a testament to Abloh’s legacy, is currently at risk of closure, prompting the Houston rapper to take proactive steps in preserving this cultural space.
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Save Freedom Skatepark
On Jan. 5, Wole Olosunde took to Instagram to spread awareness to help save Freedom Skatepark in Accra, Ghana. It was opened by Virgil Abloh shortly before his death in November 2021 and is now facing closure.
The New York-based designer showcased a cement wall, and sand poured inside the park to prevent skaters from entering:
“The Irony of Freedom. Finally got to visit FREEDOM, the skate park Virgil Abloh built in Accra, Ghana. One of his last projects before he passed. I left heartbroken and confused,” Olosunde wrote.
He continued:
“Cause why tf is no one talking about or fighting for this? Another owner has shown up, stormed the park & built a cement wall then poured sand through the park to keep all skaters out.”
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Travis Scott Chimes In
Olosunde’s post caught The UTOPIA artist’s attention, prompting him to comment:
“MANNN WHATT WHAT WE DOINNNNNGGGGGGGG LET ME KNOW WHAT WE GOTTA DO TO GET MY BROTHER PARK BACK GOING PLEASSSSSEEEEEEE.” Olosunde replied to Scott bhy commenting “ITS TIME.”
Users in the comment section reacted to Scott wanting to restore the skatepark. One user named @__jesse.vi commented, “trav coming to (Ghana) confirmed haha…i been always knew trav is a pure human.” Another user named @cimeryy commented doing gods work, nothing but respect.”
The Freedom Skatepark was not just a skateboarding venue but also a vibrant community center. Alongside the skatepark, a community center provided free Wi-Fi, masterclasses, and studio time for recording to the local kids.
It was a space where creativity flourished and dreams were nurtured. This added significance makes Scott’s efforts to save the skatepark even more crucial.
‘A Day In Ghana’
Interestingly, fellow rap star Kendrick Lamar had previously documented his visit to Freedom Skatepark in his Spotify mini-documentary A Day in Ghana. The documentary shed light on the vibrant skateboarding culture at the park and emphasized its importance as a safe space for the local youth.
While Scott’s determination is commendable, there have been no official plans announced regarding the reopening of the skatepark.
In other Travis Scott news, he released his film Circus Maximus in August 2023. The film is a visual accompaniment to his latest album, UTOPIA. The film has Scott doing live performances of the album’s songs such as “HYAENA,” “SIRENS,” “DELESTO,” and others.
Skate For Tyre
Travis Scott’s commitment to restoring Virgil Abloh’s skatepark in Africa echoes the efforts of Memphis rapper NLE Choppa. In an unrelated but equally significant event, NLE Choppa organized a peaceful protest at a skatepark to honor the memory of Tyre Nichols, a victim of police brutality.
