It all started with a parking lot on National Avenue. 

MMAC member Barbara Maszk has worked at SITE Staffing for nearly two decades. Located in Walker’s Square, the office building overlooks what used to be the Walker’s Square Park and Ride, nestled beneath I-43. 

“I’ve been looking at this parking lot for over 19 years,” said Maszk.  

The space was unfortunately a well-known hub for trash dumping, prostitution, dropping and stripping stolen vehicles and drug use. One morning in 2020, mid-pandemic, Maszk looked out of her office window and saw two skaters in the parking lot mixing concrete. They planned to use the open space for a skateboard ramp. 

Walker’s Square is a dense residential area with limited parks and trails. One thing was certain to both Maszk and the skaters: Walker’s Square severely lacked outdoor recreational space. By creating a skatepark, locals could get out of their houses during the pandemic while still practicing social distancing.  

In the months that followed, skaters like Dylan Shanahan visited the parking lot and worked on the makeshift skatepark. The space generated increasing excitement among community members.  

“We were able to build it gradually and thoughtfully over time,” said Shanahan. 

However, Shanahan and others knew that unless municipalities and groups like the Federal Highway Association gave their stamp of approval, the skatepark would be destroyed. Shanahan played a pivotal role in transforming a discreet project into an official city space.  

The parking lot was decommissioned in 2023, and by July of that same year, the skatepark was formally established as a 501(c)(3) named National DIY Skatepark, Inc. The nonprofit organization encourages youth recreation, promotes safe skating spaces and builds a stronger community through skateboarding. Shanahan and Maszk sit on National DIY’s Board of Directors.  

Community leaders were quick to support the group’s mission. Milwaukee Common Council President José Pérez and the Walker’s Point Association advocated on behalf of National DIY. The Common Council awarded the organization with tax increment financing (TIF) that went toward making improvements to the space with fencing, lighting and ramps. 

“It has become a real asset to this community,” said Shanahan.  

The skatepark has quickly developed a reputation on both a local and national level. National DIY received the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award at the 2025 Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI) and was recognized at the 2025 Mayor’s Design Awards. The skatepark also recently welcomed an editor from Thrasher Magazine, a nationally renowned skateboard brand. 

“The whole space lends itself to a positive uplifting environment,” said Maszk.  

According to Shanahan and Maszk, their work on this community project is far from complete. In fact, they hope to take this space to the next level through continuous fundraising, business sponsorships, the incorporation of artwork from local artists and the coordination of events in the space. 

“There’s a ton of opportunity for businesses to engage with us,” said Shanahan.  

Learn more about National DIY and how to get involved by visiting the official website: https://nationaldiy.org/