By Thomas K. Pendergast

The legacy of Zion Williams-Gaines is now enshrined in San Francisco’s first skatepark, recently named in his honor as a tribute for his dedication to skateboarding and perseverance in overcoming blindness to pursue his passion.

San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission Vice President Joseph Hallisy said renaming the park “Zion Skate Plaza” sailed unanimously through the commission with no opposition to the change.

At the renaming ceremony, Hallisy said this park off Stanyan Street, near Waller Street – formerly known as the Waller Street Skatepark – was the first park of its kind built in San Francisco.

“We thought to ourselves ‘if Zion – in the last few years of his life, with his challenges – if he was serving as a mentor to younger skaters, in other words, paying it forward, the least we could do as a commission would be to pay it forward for him and name this incredible open space after him.’”

Shawn Connolly of the San Francisco Skate Club stressed the importance of skateboarding to Williams-Gaines and others who use the skatepark.

“It’s almost like our own religion for all of us,” Connolly said. “We either do it because we don’t need anybody to do it or because we’re making friends and we have connections, and it gets us out of our own minds. No matter what, we all share skating, and this is a spot where we can share the memory of Zion and share skating together.”

His mother, Charmaine Williams-Gaines, expressed gratitude to all those who helped make it happen.

Her son passed away in his sleep on June 19, 2023, a week before he would have turned 21 years old. The cause of death has not been made public.

“I’m just grateful that God allowed me to be his mom and I’m honored on behalf of other parents who have lost their babies. No matter what age, it doesn’t matter, they’re still the baby and that grief in that woman is still there,” she said. “However, we’re still here so that means we have a job to do. We still have to be here to love on each other and that’s one thing that he did remind me of all the time.

“I just want to thank the commissioners, Park and Rec., my family, my friends, all the skate community. Just seeing all your faces, it’s a blessing and I do thank each and every one of you guys for being here and taking the time to be here and being part of this moment. And I love you guys from the bottom of my heart.”

Williams-Gaines showed up regularly at the skatepark and was a familiar face to many there, as he mentored younger skaters.

In 2021, however, his life took a bloody turn when he was shot by a drunk man outside a bar.

In media interviews he said he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, walking home with some of his friends when the man started shooting.

He was hit twice, with one bullet destroying his right eye and the other crushing the socket of his left eyeball.

In spite of what some might think is a debilitating condition, Williams-Gaines did not give up on skateboarding, instead learning how to navigate the skatepark from memory so he could keep going.

“I’ve been instructing blind people for about 10 years,” said Robert Alminana, an orientation and mobility instructor and the senior director of Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. “Occasionally, very rarely, comes a student who teaches me more than I will teach him; Zion was one of these individuals. Being just 20 years old, Zion taught me profound lessons about human nature and I’m old enough to be his grandfather.

“Zion was kind. He was optimistic,” Alminana said. “He was forgiving. He was courageous. Everything Zion did or said reflected those qualities. I never heard Zion complain about anything or anyone. I never saw him angry. Zion was also eager to do, and curious about experiencing new things. He was a gifted student and a quick learner.

“For me, Zion’s positive attitude towards the challenges of life was a solid inspiration. So (with) this beautiful Zion Skate Plaza, it isn’t only Zion’s legacy we honor. We also pay tribute to his inspiration for all people with disabilities to strive and succeed.”

Justin Marks runs the Low Key Skate Shop. Going back to 2011, along with Williams-Gaines, he helped to push the City to create the skatepark.

He recalled while they were trying to put a plan together someone recommended that they form a “friends of” type organization to push for the skate park.

Marks said Williams-Gaines suggested they call the group “The Waller Street Family.”

“And that says it all about Zion,” Marks said. “He really looked at everyone as a family. And whenever he came into my shop or around, he treated everyone as if they were part of his family and his circle.

“It was just beautiful what he brought to light. And I loved skateboarding with him. I miss him.”

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins also showed her support for the new skatepark and paid tribute to Williams-Gaines.

“So many victims of traumas don’t get to have their loved ones be remembered in this way, honored in this way; they just have to carry their pain in silence,” Jenkins said. “But also, as a mother who has had to bury my own child, that so often you just want people to remember that they ever existed – who they were, that they were somebody important, that they were somebody who should have a legacy.

“And so, I thank Rec. and Park,” she said. “I thank the commission for giving Zion a legacy in our City.”