Petition started to name upcoming Fall River skatepark, after recently deceased skater, online fundraiser created

The Fall River skateboarding community is petitioning to have a skatepark named after one of their own who died suddenly late last week.

According to WWLP News, at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Springfield, MA Police responded to a collision where a man was riding a bicycle and was hit on Parker and Verge Streets.

The driver, who was not named, got out of his car after the crash and took off on foot. He turned himself in on Friday afternoon.

According to friends and family, Aronde Odom died from his injuries.

Odom was a big part of the local skateboarding scene, some believing that he was the best skateboarder in the area.

A candlelight vigil was held Friday evening at Abbott Court and a friend of Odom, Shane Alves, noted that the turnout showed how much he meant to the area.

“He was a big part of the skate community and was loved by many of us. He touched others too from all over. You can see the crowd that came together tonight, and this is just a small number of friends that know him from the park. He had a smile that could light up a room, and he was always there when his family & friends needed him.”

Social media was flooded Friday with those who knew Odom coming to grips with the sudden and tragic loss and expressing how special he was.

Those who knew him described his sweet and kind demeanor and how much of an impact he made in the community. So much so that a campaign has begun to name the updated skatepark coming to Lafayette Park after him. You can click here to sign it.

The petition already has over 1,000 electronic signatures and states the case for the park to be named after Odom.

“This is a very personal appeal. I am advocating to name our new skate park after a remarkable individual, a beacon of positivity and talent within our community. He was never involved in any form of misconduct. Instead, his inherent goodness reflected through his ability to brighten the atmosphere. His spirit was infectious; always making people around him smile, always being there for those in need. Sadly, our hero fell victim to a fatal bike crash, following which, the driver responsible didn’t render him any assistance, inflicting an additional layer of agony upon this tragedy.

“In the extreme sport world, his talent was renowned. Skating wasn’t just a passion to him; it was a lifestyle and a means to inspire. Statistics from the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) suggest that there are over 11 million active skateboarders globally. Our hero positively influenced many in this crowd, and I believe he deserves recognition for his goodwill, talent, and contributions.

“Our city is on the verge of inaugurating a new skate park, a venue that will foster countless more passions for skating. What could be a more appropriate tribute than naming this park after our local hero and greatly admired skater? This act would immortalize his essence, his talent, and his influence in our community and serve as an inspiration to all future skaters.”

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser for funeral expenses, “Odom was one of the greatest people you could ever hope to be around. He radiated positivity with an immense and infectious aura—his laugh and smile could instantly make your day better and brighter. Even when he was sad, he always looked out for others and found a way to make them laugh.

“To me and many others, he was more than just a brother, son, friend, nephew, uncle, or significant other—he was an amazing public figure and an inspiration to future generations in skateboarding. But he was so much more than that.”

Services have not yet been announced.