GROTON - The unannounced event at Sutton Park's skateboarding park drew crowds of skaters and spectators as well as television coverage last Wednesday. They were all there to see professional skateboarder Tony Hawk live and in action at a facility that may soon see upgrades and expansion.

Caden Foote, 7, of Groton came to the skate park with his parents and cousins, as well as his skateboard and helmet.

"I saw Tony Hawk skateboarding on TV and I want to get better at it. It's pretty cool he came now because I have to get my flu shot today," said the young Foote.

Most of the skaters at the park last week were older than Foote. But according to his official biography, Tony Hawk, now 41, was nine years old when his brother Steve gave him a blue fiberglass banana board and changed his life.

By 12, Tony was sponsored by Dogtown Skateboards, by 14 he was pro, and by age 16, Tony Hawk was the best skateboarder in the world. In the ensuing 17 years, Hawk entered an estimated 103 pro contests, won 73 of them, and placed second in 19. He retired from competing 10 years ago. Last week's visit was part of his team tour through New England, skating with locals while promoting skate products and demonstrating his new video game, "Tony Hawk:Ride." The game's console is a skateboard with sensors that runs on X-Box 360, PS-3 and Wii systems.

Jerry Lokken is Recreation Services Manager for Groton's Parks & Rec department.

"Our skate park has a bit of a reputation as being one of the better skate parks on the East coast. Tony wanted to see it, skate with the skaters and hang out with the kids.

We do have some unique elements at this skate park," he said.

The park was designed and built by Groton's own Jeff Paproki with significant input from local skateboarders.

"Tony's appearance is really fortuitous," said Lokken, drawing attention to the planned expansion of the skatepark and Sutton Park around it. Groton Parks & Rec's recently approved Master Plan encompasses projects throughout town, and Lokken said the department has already begun fund-raising events in anticipation of the work. During his visit, Hawk donated an autographed skateboard for auction at last Saturday's skate contest; funds raised will benefit the skate park expansion.

Paprocki said, "it's cool to have the Bird Man here skating on our stuff. We just added a new element to the Westerly (R.I.) skate park, but this is my favorite park because it's my hometown and it's the first one I built."

Paprocki said he and the Parks & Rec department have discussed adding small elements to the Groton skate park "to keep it fresh and new" until the expansion takes place.