LongBeachReport.com | LBReport.com | Four Wheels Unite Skate Jam and Car Show at LB's Michael K. Green Skate Park

(July 24, 2010) -- The first ever Four Wheels Unite Skate Jam and Car Show took place at Long Beach's Michael K. Green Skate Park at 14th St./Pine Ave. on Saturday July 24.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

The event is the second of three events planned this summer by former 7th district Councilman Mike Donelon (photo below), a strong advocate for skate parks.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

In an interview with LBReport.com at the show, Donelon said that the community events were planned to "engage the neighborhood kids and promote a continued pride of ownership to reinforce the idea that this is not a place for drugs or gang banging." The former Councilman described the events as being pulled together by "the seat-of-our pants, but no one we’ve asked for help has said no."

(R to L) Tim Scanian LB Skate Owner; Mark Waldman Gasoline Gallery owner; Sammy Velvet Wrigley Neighborhood Association Board. Photo credit: Joe Mello

The first event held in June featured LB Police Chief Jim Mc Donnell. Today's (July) car show was attended by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (D, LB) and Long Beach Fire Chief Alan Patalano. Councilman Donelon acknowledged that a third event is planned for late August with no idea yet of what it will be.

At today's event, drift cars and local vintage cars were visible.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

The LB Police Explorers and the LB Fire Youth Search and Rescue all participated.

Long Beach Fire Chief Alan Patalano with Search & Rescue Youth. Photo credit: Joe Mello

The Long Beach Firefighters Association provided free food and drinks with raffle prizes from LB Skate Shop, the Tony Hawk Foundation, Etnies Shoes and Gasoline Gallery.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

Among those attending were community activists Jack Smith (from Wrigley area) and Dan Pressburg (NLB) who as part of Better Balance for LB (grassroots citywide group) advocated 14th St. Park area improvements.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (D, LB) briefly addressed the crowd of about 200 children and adults, saying the park proves that "If you just ask your government for something, it will respond."

Photo credit: Joe Mello

The skate park was built using federal community development block grant funds.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

It was named after Michael K. Green after neighbors circulated a petition and collected 70,000 names to recognize the local skateboard legend known as "Blacc Mike."

Photo credit: Joe Mello

The twenty-one year old Green was the victim of a random killing by local gang members in 2005 just after signing a lucrative sponsorship deal with Vans Shoes.

Green’s mother, Laurietta King (photo below), moved to Moreno Valley after her son's murder, but has returned for all the skate park events.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

Assemblywoman Lowenthal with Ms. King. Photo credit: Joe Mello

Known as "Momma Blacc" by the neighborhood skaters, she took a Greyhound bus from Moreno Valley and broke out in tears seeing the new sign dedicated to her son with the words "The Legend Lives On."

Part of the documentary film about the Long Beach skateboarding scene called "On the Grind" featured the story of the Green murder trial.