Skateboarding community pushes to rename London skate park after late advocate of the sport

A group of skateboarding enthusiasts are petitioning the City of London to rename a popular east-end skate park after the person who helped advocate for it and played a role in its design.

Brett Cousins, 35, died unexpectedly on July 16. His closest friends say the best way to pay tribute to him is to rename the Kiwanis Skateboard Plaza, on Brydges Street, the Brett Cousins Memorial Skate Park. 

"Brett was very passionate about this skate park and getting it created. He wanted to share this with his community and I feel the least we can do for him is to get this name changed," said friend Rachel Anglehart.

So far, more than 2,500 people have signed a petition to present to city staff supporting the name change. Cousins worked at West 49, a skate clothing store in White Oaks Mall, and those who knew him said he often acted as a mentor to young people getting into the sport. 

"It means a lot to the skateboarding community. A ton of people have been reaching out, trying to get involved. The love for Brett is never ending," Anglehart said.

Sarah Laraway, a longtime friend of Cousins, said while his name was well known within the local skateboarding community, not as many were aware of his death or of how much he was involved in building or designing the skate park.

"I think a lot of people don't know the influence that he had in the skate park becoming as big as it did," she said.

Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis said he remembers Cousins' passion when they worked together more than a decade ago to get the Kiwanis skate park built. 

Lewis said council is currently reviewing the city's naming policies for public places after other Londoners have had their names removed from locations. Because of that, he said no discussions about the