Stotzky skate park named for Wesley Dean Ackley, who changed its future more than a decade ago

Wesley Dean Ackley, the skateboarder who more than a decade ago changed the future of Riverhead’s skate park through the power of advocacy, was immortalized yesterday when Riverhead Town named the place where he spent much of his free time during his teenage years in his honor.

Riverhead Town officials, Ackley’s family and friends, and the park’s active skateboarding community, celebrated the unveiling of the new sign dedicating the skatepark to Ackley, who grew up in Baiting Hollow and died on Jan. 24 at age 27. 

“Our town parks evolve as years go by. Basketball courts, tennis courts, they rise, they fall as progress continues and changes, and ideas change,” Council Member Ken Rothwell said. “We’re not here just to honor Wes in his name and his memory, but to honor his commitment, that now by putting his name on this park, this park will be here — I can assure you — forever. And that’s one thing that Wes would want to make certain.”

MORE COVERAGE: Riverhead skate park to be dedicated in memory of skater who changed its future through advocacy

The sign reads “Inspiring kids to make a difference,” a tribute to when Ackley changed the town’s fee policy for using the skate park. In January 2010, Ackley wrote a letter to the Town Board after he read in a newspaper that the board intended to double park’s fees for non-Riverhead residents — from $50 to $100 annually. Ackley, then 14, read his letter aloud in front of the board on Jan. 20, 2010, arguing that a “higher fee would mean less kids going because of the increased prices, and more kids on the street skateboarding” and advising the board on what they could do to improve activity at the skatepark. 

“It was my report to the Town Board that wanted to raise the fees. It made sense on paper. I’m a numbers guy, spreadsheet guy,” Recreation Superintendent Ray Coyne told the crowd of more than 100 people gathered outside of the skate park about his idea to raise the skate park fees. Although “the numbers worked out” and he would have generated more revenue for the town, Coyne said Ackley had the Town Board in the “palm of his hands.”  

The Town Board tabled the resolution increasing the fees based on Ackley’s comments.

“I do remember being frustrated. All my work and analysis was taken down by a 14-year-old’s letter,” Coyne said. “But you know what? Wes was right. He changed my entire view of the skate park. It isn’t about numbers on a spreadsheet, it’s about kids being kids, having fun, having a good time skating and making friends in a supervised environment. The letter brought me back to what recreation was truly about.”

“A short time later we removed all the skatepark fees. That still exists today. Wes changed the landscape and allowed more kids in the park and off the streets,” Coyne said. “Wes is my hero for what he did and how he went about it. He gave a voice to all the kids in the skate park. Naming the skate park after Wes is a no brainer. It’s fitting.”

Photos of Ackley of Wes skateboarding adorned the fence surrounding the skate park, as former Town Board members reminisced about when Ackley presented his letter.

“I remember seeing this brave young man come before us and say you can’t raise the fees. I want my friends to come and ride here,” Assembly Member Jodi Giglio, who was on the board at the time. Ackley said, “I want this. I want to be able to enjoy my friends and enjoy the beautiful weather, enjoy the skate park, which really nobody has,” Giglio recalled.

Former Council Member George Gabrielsen, who motioned to table the resolution after Ackley spoke to the board, said Ackley’s story is a “model” to young people for making change. He said the sign and dedication in Ackley’s memory will be an inspiration for years to come.

“Want to thank all our friends and family who took time to come today and share this dedication of the skate park to Wes’ name. We want all of you to know that everybody here, either directly or indirectly, touched Wesley’s life and made a difference,” Ackley’s father, Shawn, said to the crowd with tears in his eyes. ”I think that the message Wes would want to share with all of us today is to live life to the fullest and leave a positive walk wherever you can.”

Chris Patti, who developed a lifelong friendship with Ackley skateboarding with him at Stotzky, has started a gofundme page to raise money to revitalize and improve the skate park, which he said would increase tourism and business opportunities. 

“In 2016, much of the skate park’s ramps were removed to make room for pickleball courts that were never built. The resulting swathe of vacant cement has sat unused since,” Patti said. “Wes, his brother Jake, our friends and I would muse about the park in its heyday, imagining ways to revitalize our beloved skatepark. Now that the park is being renamed in honor of Wes, it is the perfect time to begin raising funds for this project.” 

The fundraiser has currently raised $3,960 of its $200,000 goal. Patti said that according to a professional skatepark builder, at least $150,000 is needed to renovate vacant space at the park.

“If we hit our goal, we can do something truly amazing, building obstacles for all skill levels,” Patti said. “The current prefabricated ramps are an uninspired design that caters to upper and mid level skatepark users. Many of the park’s attendees are youngsters and the current design does not foster a learning environment.”

Coyne said after Patti’s remarks that the town will rebuild the vacant section of the skatepark. 

The idea of dedicating the skatepark in Ackley’s name came from a letter sent to the board earlier this year by Riverhead business owner Lisa Drozd and former Deputy Supervisor Jill Lewis. 

Editor’s note: Jill Lewis is an employee of RiverheadLOCAL.