Anthony Acosta, revered skateboarding photographer, took a trip down to Gardena with some buddies to shoot our latest design/build project at Rowley Park. Word on the streets is that the kids are loving the design and flocking from all over Southern California to ride it. Blake Johnson was one of them and put together this great clip here.
McBride Skatepark Grand Opening – Long Beach, California, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
Spohn Ranch’s fifth skatepark for the City of Long Beach celebrated its official grand opening this past weekend. It was an amazing day for Long Beach skateboarding and was summed up incredibly well by the Tony Hawk Foundation here.
“Tony Hawk and a group of pro athletes joined about 300 city officials and local youth on Saturday for the grand opening of the Ernest McBride Skatepark in Long Beach, California. The Poly High neighborhood, where the skatepark is located, is home to one of the country’s most diverse urban communities, yet few recreational opportunities are available for its youth. The new 10,000-square-foot skate plaza is considered by local leaders as the area’s best chance to keep kids active, healthy, and safe from gangs and crime.
Spearheaded by former Long Beach City Council Member Mike Donelon and the nonprofit Action Sports Kids (ASK Long Beach) organization, the McBride Skatepark was a collaboration between the city, its citizens, and local advocacy groups. “The City Of Long Beach understands the benefits of skateparks, and is a huge supporter of the kids who ride them,” says Donelon. “Today was the climax of our skatepark program. With the help of the Tony Hawk Foundation, we built a world-class skatepark that is going to keep kids out of gangs and off drugs, and will help them stay active and get along.”
Tony Hawk presented the McBride Skatepark at THF’s Stand Up For Skateparks event in Beverly Hills in 2010, where he helped raise $45,000 for the project. Long Beach has been a leader in providing its at-risk youth with safe, quality public skateparks, and the McBride Skatepark is the latest addition to its ongoing skatepark program.
“It’s an excellent street-plaza design, with just enough transitions to make it well-rounded,” says Hawk. “It has something for all skill levels, and is exactly the type of project, area, and advocacy that we want to get involved with. It should be an example for other communities to follow.”
After a few brief speeches, Hawk and fellow celebrity skaters Geoff Rowley, Ron Chatman, Riley Hawk, Danny Gonzalez, Daewon Song, Chad Tim Tim, Clive Dixon, and Danny Montoya, plus BMXers Aaron Ross, Dakota Roche, and Gabe Brooks ripped through the park, demonstrating its potential before being joined by the hundreds of local youth who were keen to have their turn. “It was a blast,” says Hawk. “The kids were so eager to skate that we cut our demo short to let them in.”
Of the nearly 500 skateparks the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped to fund, the Ernest McBride Skatepark is the 417th to open. It’s a free, open-access facility that welcomes all wheeled youth—skateboarders, BMXers,
Throughout the development of the skatepark—from planning to fundraising to design—local youth were engaged and integral to the process. Now that their efforts have resulted in Long Beach’s latest public amenity, they can take pride in knowing that they helped create it. As both the City Of Long Beach and the Tony Hawk Foundation have understood for more than a decade, involving the youth in the process of developing the skatepark, and allowing them to invest their time and effort in the project, is the best way to ensure the park’s long-term success.
And the kids who were previously chased by police for riding their skateboards on city streets learned a thing or two about how local government can work for them; the skatepark stands as a concrete reminder of what they’ve accomplished through collaboration, cooperation, and compromise.”
All photos by Anthony Acosta.
The Spohn Ranch family is proud to announce that our latest Los Angeles design/build project, Hansen Dam Skatepark, is officially open as of last week. Several long months in the making, the joyous experience of taking down the construction fencing was only surpassed by our predictable next step…riding the park!
Working with our 10+ year client, Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, the new facility at Hansen Dam Park is a state-of-the-art space unlike any other in the area. The well rounded space blends the multiple genres of skate terrain in a cutting-edge fashion by anchoring the park’s entrance with a unique bowl and snaking street-inspired features around a landscaped area in the center of the park.
The 8,800 square foot concrete skatepark features integral colored concrete, granite-capped ledges and brick stamped banks. With a 2,500 square foot flow bowl, the park also speaks to a somewhat neglected LA action sports subculture – transition skaters.
Working in the City of LA is challenging to say the least. It is one of the strictest and most expensive building environments in the nation, where only financially stable and well-staffed firms can survive. This project in particular presented several unique hurdles that while challenging at the time, helped us emerge as a wiser and more well-rounded firm – prepared to tackle the toughest of site constraints and most complex of logistical riddles.
To capture the true beauty of this space, we commissioned our good friend and staff photographer for Etnies, Sam McGuire, to shoot some photos of the park. Not to one to show up empty-handed, Sam arrived with Alien Workshop’s up-and-coming amateur rider Kevin Terpening and a few friends, who were all eager to skate the park.
In speaking with Kevin and friends, they really enjoyed the park’s unique circular flow and diversity of terrain.
An official grand opening ceremony hosted by the City of Los Angeles is in the works, so stay tuned for a time and date. Until then, we hope to see you out at the park!
Santa Cruz, California – Felt Street Skate Spot , originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
Officially open!
Alright folks, this is about as small as a skate spot can be while still functioning properly. A park improvement plan for Felt Street Park in Santa Cruz, California called for a small skateboarding space in a 41′ x 57′ area.
With our expertise, we designed a small, yet imaginative area for local skateboarders. Thankfully this is Santa Cruz County’s 8th skatepark, so this skate spot will serve as a more of meet-up spot, rather than a full-fledged regional skatepark.
If your community is planning a new park or re-doing an existing one, but doesn’t have the funds or space for a large skatepark – skate spots and skate dots are great solutions!
Some footage here:
We are proud to announce that we are welcoming retired professional skateboarder Charlie Wilkins into the Spohn Ranch family as our new full-time CAD designer. We met Charlie this past summer as we were working with Alli Sports on the Dew Tour and immediately knew he would be a great fit.
While many know him from his Judas Priest-inspired onslaught in Maple’s “Black Cat”, Charlie’s involvement in skateboarding goes way beyond magazine spreads and video parts. Since turning pro in 1996, Charlie has spent several years as a World Cup Skateboarding judge, course designer and builder for the Dew Tour and instructor at countless skateboarding camps. With 20+ years of skateboarding under his belt, we are extremely excited to see his passion, creativity and well-rounded experience influence our work!
Check out Charlie in action at our in-process project – McBride Skatepark in Long Beach, California!
Holland, Michigan – Smallenburg Skatepark Open!, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
Thank goodness for the uncharacteristically warm weather the Midwest has been experiencing as of late, because the skateboarders of Holland, Michigan are getting some unexpected quality time at the new concrete skatepark. In 2011, Spohn Ranch was chosen as the skatepark designer and builder for the 10,000 square foot concrete space at Smallenburg Park. The project was our second for the City of Holland, as we successfully completed another 10,000 square foot park at Dirkse Park in 2009.
Officially open for a few weeks now, the park is already generating a lot of hype in the State of Michigan, with skateboarders traveling from across the state to ride one of the area’s most modern skateparks. Lined by large trees, the park has an incredibly inviting aesthetic and feels like a vibrant community gathering space.
Check out all of the shots from local photographer Dan Irving by clicking the photo above or check out some video footage of the skatepark below.
Aurora, Illinois – Fun Session at the New Concrete Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
While word continues to spread about Illinois’ “funnest public skatepark”, our friends from Yeah Boardshop got in an early morning session before the park got too crowded. Local photographer, Kyle Seidler, returned with some amazing shots from the day’s action, including some gems of skateshop owner, Steve Davenport.
Click the photo above to see all the shots from the session. Or check out the epicness for yourself by visiting Spohn Ranch’s lateset Midwest design/build project at Phillips Park in Aurora.
The Dalles, Oregon – Skatepark Construction Complete!, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
Randy Kilwag, Portland skatepark advocate and founder of the popular skateboarding blog, Skate and Annoy, just sent over some great shots of our recently completed design/build project in The Dalles, Oregon. While the City is still wrapping up some final perimeter landscaping and site amenities, the Spohn Ranch crews have moved onto the next project in Woodland Park, Colorado.
With integral colored concrete and a diversity of innovative features, this vibrant space at Thompson Park officially opened on June 18 with demos, raffles and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A long overdue recreation facility for The Dalles, the 8,000 square foot concrete skatepark is already receiving rave reviews and steadily building momentum for a phase-2.
Suffolk, Virginia – Lake Meade Completed Park, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
Local ripper Templeton Elliot just sent a grip of photos from our other recently completed skate spot in Suffolk, Virginia – this time at Lake Meade Park. Both Lake Meade and Bennett’s Creek officially opened in May and have been met with incredibly positive feedback from the Parks Department and local skate community.
Here’s a nice little clip showing the flowing and well-spaced street style terrain that Lake Meade offers.
Bennett’s Creek Skate Spot – Suffolk, Virginia, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
Just received some great shots of our recently completed skate spot in Suffolk, Virginia from Templeton Elliot, a skateboarding advocate from Norfolk and contributor to The Skateboard Mag. Templeton was actively involved in the design of both Suffolk skate spots and backs his concepts up with mean back smiths and tails.
After being selected as the highest ranking respondent to a design/build RFP in late 2010, Spohn Ranch worked through the winter to build skate spots at Bennett’s Creek and Lake Meade parks. With official grand openings in early April, word is already trickling back about the overwhelming success of these facilities. Stay tuned for photos of the completed Lake Meade skate spot!
Gainesville, Florida Sunset Skate Session, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
Rapidly approaching its 1-year anniversary, our design/build project in Gainesville, Florida was recently the site of an artistic photo shoot by local photographer Max Reed.
At Spohn Ranch, we design every skatepark as an interactive art installation and our 18,000 sq ft park at Possum Creek Park is no exception. Here, a local skater busts a fat frontside flip over the park’s sculptural earthquake gap feature. Click the photo above to see all the amazing shots!
Nice clips from Spohn Ranch’s Ambassador Skate Plaza in Los Angeles courtesy of Active Ride Shop. This montage features the smooth skating and raw talent of Theotis Beasley and some friends. For more info on LA’s first real street plaza built in 2008, click here.
Check out the sick montage from Spohn Ranch’s Possum Creek Skatepark in Gainesville, Florida. This 18,000 square foot park opened in April and continues to attract skaters from throughout Florida!
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 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.
Bixby Park Skate Spot – Long Beach, California, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
In 2010 Spohn Ranch donated a few Spohncrete pre-cast concrete pieces to a DIY skate spot at Bixby Park (Cherry Park) in Long Beach, California. Local skaters had turned this flat slab of concrete into their own home, but amateur construction techniques limited the potential of this spot. Now filled with smooth concrete pieces with stainless steel edging, this spot has become a meeting place for Long Beach’s top skaters.
Check out this nice montage from the good folks over at The Skateboard Mag – featuring Sierra Fellers, Abidas Riveria, Chad Tim Tim and Nick Merlino.
Long Beach, California Hybrid Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
The Michael K. Green Skatepark in Long Beach, California was completed in January and has quickly become a vibrant recreational space for Long Beach’s top skaters, as well as those who are just learning to ride.
We stopped by the park yesterday for a quick session and had a great time skating with almost 50 skaters from the Long Beach community. It was very clear from being around the kids, that this skatepark is having a very positive effect on the community and its youth. The Michael K. Green Skatepark is a hybrid-style park consisting of ramp equipment and unique concrete features. One of our favorite parts of this park is the extra-wide TrueRide HD mini-ramp.
In case you missed out on the grand opening in January, check out this great clip from The District Weekly.
Huffman Skatepark – West Dundee, Illinois, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
In between the Illinois blizzards, skaters have been braving the cold and enjoying some great sessions at the new skatepark in West Dundee. Once the weather improves, the final landscaping will be completed and the park will proudly host its official grand opening. Stay tuned for more details!
This amazing pocket-park features a raised plaza with a mini-ramp (with floating quarter-pipe), stair-set, hubba ledge, and rail. The bottom level has two paths bisected by a hipped LA High Bank dotted with manual pads, grind rails and plenty of ledges. The park was designed by Hitchcock Design Group and Spohn Ranch, and built using Spohncrete pre-cast concrete. Click the photo above to see more shots of the park
Even Dew Tour Champion and Chicago-native, Chaz Ortiz, is giving the skatepark his stamp of approval in this little montage filmed at the park in early December.
Fort Irwin Military Base Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
After building the Sidewinder Skatepark at the Fort Irwin Military Base about four months ago, we decided to head back to check up on the park and get in a nice skate session. With the integration of landscaping, trees, and decorative fencing – the park has become an inviting recreational space. In addition to the park’s aesthetic appeal, all of the pre-cast Spohncrete pieces are showing zero signs of wear and tear from skateboard trucks and BMX pegs – a clear sign that the Fort Irwin community will be able to safely enjoy a high-quality skatepark for decades to come.
Click the photo above to see all the shots from our skate session!
Skateboarding Contest at David L. Dirkse Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.
The David L. Dirkse Skatepark in Holland, Michigan recently hosted its first skateboarding competition on Saturday August 29th. Despite the stormy weather, a large crowd of skaters, family members and curious community members packed the new skatepark, which was designed and built by Spohn Ranch Skateparks earlier this year.
About 40 skaters competed in three divisions that ranged from beginner to advanced. Another 100 skateboarders watched or skated but didn’t compete. The event was organized and ran by Jeff Copmanger, father of the skater in the photo above and a huge catalyst for getting the skatepark built in Holland. Good work guys, keep it up!
In preparation for the release of their highly anticipated new video Extremely Sorry, the Flip Skateboards team has been touring skateparks across the country. Thrasher Magazine just posted a video clip of the Flip team, including Geoff Rowley, Mark Appleyard, David Gonzales, and Louie Lopez, shredding at Spohn Ranch’s Ambassador Skate Plaza in Wilmington, California. Check it out here (it’s the second skatepark in the clip)