BIG STONE GAP, Va. (WJHL) — The Town of Big Stone Gap, along with the non-profit Friends of Southwest Virginia, celebrated the groundbreaking of the forthcoming Big Stone Gap Bike and Skate Park this week.

The initiative is supported by the Tyler Flanary Memorial Skate Park Fund, the Town of Big Stone Gap, Friends of Southwest Virginia, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation, and the Cumberland Forest Community Fund, as stated in the release.

Following Flanary’s passing in 2018, his family, friends, and the community established a memorial fund that garnered nearly $100,000 to aid in realizing the skate park project.

The park is set to include a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)-rated asphalt pumptrack for competition-level biking and a high-grade concrete skate park complete with steel coping rails.

To honor Flanary, a memorial skateboard will be placed within the park, the release said.

“We are very excited to see this project come together,” said Town Manager Stephen Lawson. “It will provide a safe, exciting place for our community to enjoy outdoor recreation and bring tourism opportunities to Big Stone Gap.”

“For years, Friends of Southwest Virginia has believed in the vision of this project, and today we are thrilled to see it becoming a reality,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “We are especially honored to work alongside the Town of Big Stone Gap to bring this park to life and to honor the memory of Tyler Flanary. This space will serve as both a lasting tribute to Tyler’s life and a vibrant place for families, friends, and visitors to connect with the outdoors.”

“The community has been the vision for this project since the beginning,” Davis added. “With strong partners and the dedication of Tyler’s family and friends, the Big Stone Gap Bike and Skate Park will be a transformative addition to our region’s world-class recreational assets.”

According to the release, the park is scheduled to open in the spring of 2026.