T-Mobile Gives $50k Grant to Ruston Community Project

Just an hour down the road from us here in Shreveport big things are coming to the community of Ruston. Back in 2021 Artist, Louisiana Tech Professor, and Skateboarder Joey Slaughter (yes, his real name is that cool) started the Skatepark of Ruston project. The goal was to raise enough money to work with the city to renovate the long-dilapidated community pool into a spot for skaters to shred. Back in February of 2023 they met their fundraising goal of $250,000 and then in December began the first steps of building this college town's concrete playground.

T-Mobile Shows Ruston Some Love

The good news keeps on coming for skaters ready for a place to practice their kickflips as yesterday it was announced that the project has received a $50k grant as part of T-Mobile's Hometown Grant. In a post announcing the new funding, they explained that the quote they had received for the construction ended up being higher than they had anticipated, but with help from the City of Ruston T-Mobile caught wind of the soon to be skatepark.

A Community Effort

The skatepark is a project that everyone out in Ruston seems to have a hand in, the community has showed out for city council planning meetings, local businesses in Ruston proudly displaying their "I'm on Board" fundraising signs, and even Louisiana Tech's Studio Art Program pitching in. The Deck the Halls art auction saw art students use a blank skateboard as a canvas to be auctioned off to help raise funds for the skatepark.