In a heartfelt nod to a local hero, San Francisco's hub for skateboarders has been rebranded as Zion Skate Plaza. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission came to a unanimous decision, a tribute to the beloved skateboarder and community advocate Zion Williams Gaines, who passed away last year. The plaza, nestled in Golden Gate Park at Waller and Stanyan Streets, was previously known as Waller Street Skate Park.
Zion, a figure revered in the skateboarding circle and a Bayview native, lost his eyesight tragically as a teenager due to a gunshot wound but never gave up on his passion for the sport. According to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, at the young age of 20, Zion's journey came to an end as he died in his sleep in June 2023. Despite his challenges, he remained deeply engaged with the local skate scene, fostering its growth and serving as an inspiring mentor.
Zion left his mark early, joining the SF Skate Club's afterschool program at 11 and becoming a peer mentor. His professional aspirations had him intern at DLX Distribution, a local skateboarding company right at the heart of San Francisco. He was also instrumental in the Friends of Waller group, pivotal in the 2022 park renovation that has now taken his name. Zion's application for a recreation leader position with Rec and Park is a testament to his ongoing mission to support and lead community skateboarding initiatives.
His mother, Charmaine Williams, spoke of Zion's wider influence, "Zion’s impact went far beyond the skateboarding community. He inspired anyone who has ever felt like the world was stacked against them," she told the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. The shared ethos of determination and inclusivity that Zion exuded is now a lasting fixture of Zion Skate Plaza. SF Rec and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg mirrored these sentiments, praising Zion as "a catalyst for positive change."
