Archive for July, 2010

Long Beach, CA’s Skatepark System

July 27, 2010 Leave a Reply

Long Beach, California Hybrid Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Check out this great video from Transworld Skateboarding that follows Chad Tim Tim and a few Long Beach locals as they skate around town and hit up a few of Spohn Ranch’s new skateparks.

First up is Cherry Park (also known as Bixby Park). This park is home to some DIY pieces and some precision-cast concrete pieces which were donated to the City earlier this year. After getting some grub, they head off the Michael K. Green skatepark – a hybrid skatepark Spohn Ranch built earlier this year in honor of Long Beach legend, Black Mike, who passed away a few years ago.

With more quality parks from Spohn Ranch on the way, the City of Long Beach is developing a legitimate skatepark system. Rather than applying all of the City’s funding into a single project, pocket parks with a variety of terrain are spread around the City – helping create a diverse and more accessible skateboarding scene.

Posted in Sessions

Construction Begins On Bemidji’s New Skate Plaza

July 22, 2010 2 Replies

Bemidji, Minnesota Community Skate Plaza, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

This Monday, Spohn Ranch field crews will begin executing on Site Design Group’s unique vision for Minnesota’s first public skate plaza. As construction officially begins on Bemidji’s new skatepark, the local skate/bmx community will be eagerly waiting for the day their wheels can make first contact with the sparkling new concrete.

The hard work and dedication of Bemidji’s Skate & Bike Association has been truly inspirational as we’ve geared up for this project. For the past several years, the local riders have been leading fundraising efforts and rallying support for an engaging community space that will become one of the Midwest’s most-talked-about skateparks. The group’s vision earned them $25,000 from the Tony Hawk Foundation – the maximum grant the foundation awards. Burton Snowboards, Nike and the Nielson Foundation also contributed valuable donations to help make this skate plaza a reality.

This skate plaza was designed by our good friends at Site Design Group in conjunction with the local skate/bmx community. With integral colored concrete, aesthetic landscaping and unique spectator seating areas – Spohn Ranch is on track to transform this environment into a vibrant public space for both skaters and non-skaters to enjoy. Stay tuned for updates as construction progresses!

Posted in Skatepark Construction

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New Concrete Skatepark in Watts, California

July 14, 2010 Leave a Reply

Concrete Skate Spot – Watts, California (Los Angeles), originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

In 2010, Spohn Ranch was proud to partner with the Watts Labor Community Action Committee to provide the youth of Watts, California with a skateboarding safe haven. The WLCAC’s dedication to improving quality of life in their neighborhood inspired us to create a unique environment that would accommodate the increasing popularity of skateboarding and action sports in Watts. With 4,500 square feet of skateable terrain, this pocket park will promote healthy lifestyles and present the youth of Watts with a positive alternative to the crime, gangs and drugs that challenge their community.

For this project, Spohn Ranch worked with Maine-based Who Skates to transform an under-utilized loading zone into a vibrant community skate spot. The park balances street and transition features in a unique way, while simultaneously providing opportunities for skateboarders of varying ability levels. With a historical mural as a backdrop, this skatepark is well on its way to becoming one of Watts’ most inspiring displays of community activism.

While construction of the skatepark wrapped up last month, the park is still awaiting some final site amenities before it will officially open in the next few weeks. Thanks again to WLCAC for letting us take part in such a rewarding project!

Posted in Uncategorized

Grand Opening of Henderson’s Morrell Skatepark

July 9, 2010 Leave a Reply

Morrell Skatepark – Henderson, Nevada, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

On Thursday, July 8, Spohn Ranch was proud to assist the City of Henderson, Nevada with the opening of their fifth skatepark. The day’s festivities included a dedication from Councilwoman Gerri Schroder and demonstrations from professional skateboarders and BMX riders.

With a rich history of nationally-recognized recreational facilities, the City of Henderson knew they wanted their fifth skatepark to become one of the nation’s premiere action sports facilities. With over 24,000 square feet of skateable terrain, Henderson’s Morrell Skatepark is a state-of-the art environment combining the best of plaza and transition-style features.

The park was built through a combination of precision-cast concrete and TrueRide HD ramp equipment – transforming a set of dilapidated basketball courts into a well-rounded hybrid skatepark. Prior to Morrell Skatepark, Henderson boasted four public skateparks. While these skateparks were valuable community resources, they were geared towards advanced riders with a preference for big transitions.

With the Morrell Skatepark, we worked diligently with the local community to design a park that would accommodate a broad range of needs. The park features a modern plaza-style layout at one end of the park with stairs, brick-textured banks and concrete benches. The other half of the park is geared towards BMX riders and beginner skaters who are just learning to ride. With a big emphasis on programming during the planning stages, we designed the park with a variety of features that were well-suited for lessons, camps and competitions.

Click the photo above to see additional shots of the park!

Posted in Events, Skateparks

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