JONES COUNTY, Ga. — Barbi Parker of Jones County lost her 17-year-old nephew March 28, 2024. She said Euel Smith took his life, unexpectedly.
"Like a lot of teenagers nowadays with the pressure of life and love… just not being able to handle the real world," Parker said. "I guess looking back we've seen certain signs and I don't know if we could have helped or not."
She said Smith and her kids had a very close relationship. Her daughter, Laney Parker, came up with an idea to honor her late cousin and help their family cope through the grieving process.
"She was like, 'I have an idea, let's do a skatepark in his honor,'" Parker said. "So I thought it would give my family some kind of happiness."
According to Barbi Parker, the two loved hitting the ramps together. Since there is not a skatepark located in Jones County, she said they would travel to other parks in the Central Georgia -- often heading to Carolyn Crayton Park. In town they would use empty parking lots and drive ways.
"There just isn't a safe place for them to skate in Jones County," she said.
The planning for the idea came into fruition, when Barbi Parker started a petition on change.org. Within a few weeks of it posting, it had hit its mark of 500 signatures. Now the petition is on it's way toward 1,000 signatures.
She said she was not expecting so much support so soon, but takes pride in knowing her community stepped up when she needed it most.
"Jones County has shown up and showed out on the petition," Parker said.
The support is just more than shares and likes.
Barbi Parker said people who have helped design other local outdoor parks have reached out to lend a helping hand. Kyle Sneed and his girlfriend Lacey Albritton have been very vocal in the push for this project.
Both said they enjoy skating in their free time and Albritton said she has a daughter who has picked up the passion.
Sneed said he grew up using skateboarding as an outlet. He said he helped plan the design for the downtown Macon skate park and used to work at the old indoor skatepark before it sold park pieces to buyers in Atlanta. The old park is located across from the new outdoor site.
Sneed said skateparks are a multi-generational hub for inclusivity and a great recreational activity for all ages. He knew this was a project he had to advocate for.
"It touches my heart and I've personally watch this really really help people," Sneed said. "A lot of kids who don't have nothing - this is their outlet."
Next week project #Sk84euel will hit the Jones County Commission's floor for approval.
She said the proposal has been well-received by many. Several businesses have reached out with letters of support to be presented at the commission meeting.
If approved, she said she would love to see the park named in memory of Smith but will happy as long as there is a spot to remember her nephew.
"As long as there's something there with his name on it... that's all I could ask for," Barbi Parker said.