Nestled between the tennis courts and a wooded area at the Richmond Hill Recreation Complex off of Ball Park Road, one can find Ozzy Park — a place where area skateboarders can practice and enjoy the sport any time.
But also found in Ozzy Park is graffiti, damaged equipment and even missing equipment, something skate park supporter Mark Wallace never thought he’d find.
The park was built in memory of Wallace’s son, Marcus Wallace, who was killed while skateboarding in 2002 when he was hit by a car.  Mark Wallace said he wanted to build something to honor his son, but also to provide a safe outlet for young people to skate.
“I wanted my son’s name to stay alive in the community and didn’t want people to have to go through what we go through every day,” Wallace said, referring to his son’s death.
Wallace said the park has been the subject of repeated vandalism since opening in 2003. Along with the city of Richmond Hill’s Parks and Tree Department working to maintain the park’s cleanliness, Wallace said he has worked hard to paint over as much of the vandalism as he can.
“(The vandalism) has just been a continual thing and it’s really been because of the location,” Wallace said.

Read more in the Dec. 28 edition of the News.