Park-Name Petition Gathers Signatures

An online petition started on Thursday — seeking to name the Walnut Creek Skate Park in memory of Tucker Hacking, who died after striking his head in a skateboard accident a week ago — was over 900 signatures later in the evening.

Hacking, 20, of Walnut Creek, was injured Friday, Jan. 27, skateboarding on Juanita Drive on the border of Lafayette and Walnut Creek, went into a coma and died Sunday.

The city is trying to reach out to the organizers among Hacking's friends and to Hacking's parents to understand their wishes, said Barry Gordon, arts, recreation and community services director for the city of Walnut Creek. "The love and respect people have for Tucker is creating the desire in them to find an appropriate way to memorialize Tucker, and we can work with them," said Gordon.

A petition could be presented during the public comment period at upcoming meetings of the City Council or the Park, Recreation and Open Space Commission or the City Council at 7 p.m. Monday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, respectively, both at City Hall, 1666 N. Main St.

In 1996, the city adopted a policy of not naming public facilities after individuals, Gordon said.

A memorial service for Hacking is scheduled for noon Saturday at St. John Vianney Church in Walnut Creek, according to the obituary notice by Hull's Walnut Creek Chapel.

The family is asking people to consider donations to the Tucker Hacking - Just Have Fun Memorial Scholarship Fund at Play-Well Outreach, a non-profit organization where Hacking worked. It gives underprivileged elementary school children scholarships to math and science-based Lego building programs in after-school classes. Contact Georgia Rudderow at georgia@play-well.org or 510-289-9909.

Hacking was one of two skateboarding fatalities in the East Bay in the last week.