BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
Early Friday morning, former Tampan, Andre White, convinced the opponents involved in the skateboarding rink (Bro Bowl) debate to sit down and talk.
With White acting as a mediator, Fred Hearns, who opposes the effort to have the Bro Bowl declared a historic landmark, met with Shannon Bruffett, who represents the Skateboarding Heritage Foundation, and initiated the effort to have the skateboarding rink at Perry C. Harvey Park declared as a historic landmark.
“After reading and hearing so much about this issue, I decided to try to build bridges to make peace,” said White.
“It’s not easy with so much hostility, but my dad came to me in a dream, and told me I needed to get involved by uniting everyone.”
So on Friday, White joined Bruffett and Hearns at the skateboarding rink where they joined hands in prayer. Afterwards, all three men walked across the street to have a closed-door meeting at Bethel Baptist Church.
After the meeting, Hearns said he thought it was productive, but now he’ll just have to see what’s going to happen in Washington, D.C.
“If it makes the National Register, I believe Shannon may be open to some compromise. If it doesn’t it will be up to the city and Tampa Housing Authority to decide the fate of the rink.
“In the meantime, I will continue to lobby for the nomination to not be approved.”
Hearns said he appreciated the effort of White bringing he and Bruffett together, and without that, he believes they would have never had any one-on-one contact.
“Andre was very instrumental in at least getting us to sit down and talk to each other. No one wants to end skateboarding. We just want to relocate it in the park.”
Bruffett said all-in-all, Friday was a great day, and he thought it was great he and Hearns found some common ground.
“I was happy to walk away with some friends after the meeting. I still want to proceed and make sure all the history is acknowledged, and just work together with everyone in a positive manner.
“I think we can find it in our hearts to work together, and come up with something that will benefit everyone. I’m saddened about all the negative press that has come out of this, because that’s not who I am.”
White said he believes things will work out, and he plans to contact Bruffett again.
“There are a lot of things that haven’t been discussed, and not on the table. I think people need to be more honest about what’s at stake.
“It seems everyone knows what’s at stake, with the exception of the public. There are a lot of issues here, and I believe we will get things straightened out.”
