NORTH OGDEN -- A group of boys clad in bright red jeans and bright blue tops sat quietly at the city council meeting as Marty Collins read a letter asking that the skate park be renamed after his son, Kit, 15, who was killed in an auto-pedestrian skateboarding accident in August.
The new name would be the Kit Collins Memorial Skate Park. It's now called North Ogden Skate Park.
Taj Cook, 12, read a letter a couple of months ago in the city council meeting asking for the name change, but since nothing has been done about it since, Taj and his mom, Jessica Sully, thought Marty Collins might be able to speed the process along.
Collins told the city council last Tuesday that his son was loved more than he even knew as he looked at the troop of boys sitting on the front row of the council chambers. He became emotional as he talked about Kit's friends and the outpouring of love the family has received since Kit's accident.
Collins re-read parts of the original letter written by Taj and his mother and explained that Kit lost his life doing what he loved, skateboarding. The boys thought it would be fitting to re-name the park because Kit spent so much time there -- and much of that time was helping some of the younger boys learn tricks.
Jessica Sully said Kit even spent time with her 8-year-old son Jaxon playing follow the leader through the skate park so he could be more comfortable on his scooter. "What 15-year-old boy does that?" Sully said.
Taj said he came up with the renaming idea when he and his mom were talking about Kit and all the things he had done for the boys in the neighborhood. "She asked me what the skate park was named and then we came up with the idea," Taj said Thursday at the skate park. He and a large group of friends spend most of their afternoons there after school.
Mayor Richard Harris said the city has made note of the request and officials are looking into the logistics of making it happen. One issue is that the library may need the space the skate park is on for its expansion, and that the skate park may be moved. Everyone agreed that if that was the case it could be renamed now and still retain the name if the park is moved.
"When this was brought up before we were all in favor," said City Councilman Justin Fawson. "I am happy to spearhead any efforts to make sure it happens."
Sully said it seems like no one is opposed, but nothing is happening and the boys are eager to get the process moving. "These guys are really excited about it and they want it to happen fast," she said as she watched her boys and their friends sail up and down the skate ramps at the park.
"When Kit died it had a lot of effect on these kids and this would be a good reminder for them," she said.
Ben Fischetti, 13, would love it if the name was changed in honor of his friend. "It's a great idea. Kit deserves that respect." He also thinks Kit would like the idea. "It would put a smile on his face."
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