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.

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

On Sunday, January 17th, the youth of Long Beach, California will officially have a brand new facility where they can exercise their passions and distract themselves from the hardships of living in what 1st District Councilman Robert Garcia called “one of the most dense and poor communities in Long Beach.” The new skatepark, which replaced existing equipment and expanded upon the site’s footprint, is a 8,000 sq. ft. hybrid style skatepark, consisting of TrueRide ramps and pre-cast Spohncrete features.  To see more shots of the skatepark, click the photo above.

Despite some initial community opposition, the skaters and their advocates fought hard to show that a new facility was a much-needed addition to their neighborhood. “One of the first things I told the city manager is that I want to make sure that we build that park, because I’ve seen the power and impact it has had on that community,” Councilman Garcia said. For the vulnerable youth of Long Beach, providing more safe places to skate is a great way to keep them active and out of trouble.

Now with all of the construction and landscaping complete, the new skatepark will be a source of pride for the community and its skaters for decades to come. The park’s official grand opening is set for Sunday, January 17th, at 1pm. The day’s festivities will include professional skating demos and speeches from Councilman Garcia, lead skatepark advocate and former Councilman Mike Donelon, and Mike Vallely, a professional skateboarder and Long Beach native. Councilman Garcia will also announce his plan to name the facility the Michael K. Greene Skatepark after Black Mike, an influential Long Beach local who was shot and killed a few years prior.

Here’s to more positive recreational spaces in the City of Long Beach! RIP Black Mike.

Skate Plaza with Skateable Art, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

We’re always looking for new ways to let skaters and cities know exactly what they’re getting during the design phase.

That’s why we’re doing better renderings in more advanced programs and creating 3D fly-throughs of parks so everyone involved can see the park from every angle.

This small-scale plaza has skateable art, plenty of ledges and enough flow to skaters move from end to end without stopping. Designed to fit in a tight footprint (condos on one side and mangroves on the other), our designers created a footprint that echoes this existing sidewalk and makes the skatepark feel like it’s always been there.

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!

LA Skate Plaza, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

This past week the Ambassador Series honored the 1-Year Anniversary of the grand opening of the LA Skate Plaza in Wilmington, California. Big thanks to Element Skateboards, HOT 106, X-Games winner Jake Brown, and especially the Ambassador Series who all helped put together this event for the youth of Wilmington.

In 2008, Spohn Ranch teamed up with Maxwell Billieon of the Ambassador Series and professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez to create a truly amazing skatepark for the city of Wilmington. One year ago, the LA Skate Plaza officially opened with largest launch in the history of Los Angeles, with almost 4,000 skaters in attendance.

Since then, the park has averaged 250-300 skaters a day, has become a drop-off location for seven neighborhood schools, and has helped reduce violent crime in the area by 90%. Spohn Ranch looks forward to many more successful years in Wilmington, as well as helping communities around the world provide more recreational spaces for kids to safely pursue their love of skateboarding and action sports.

5BORO Skateboards Southern Migration Tour, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Only two weeks after the skatepark’s official grand opening, the Bethune Point Skatepark in Daytona Beach, Florida is quickly becoming a destination park for professional skateboarding teams and a wide diversity of skaters from around the East Coast.  5BORO Skateboards, a New York based skateboarding company, is doing a demo at the skatepark on December 1st as part of their Southern Migration Tour.

If you won’t be able to make it down to Daytona Beach for this demo, check out a few of the videos from the skatepark that are already popping up on youtube.  The unique skateable art pieces, authentic street-style elements like stairs and handrails, and ability to flow through the park are clearly a huge hit with the local skaters.  Check out the clips!

http://www.youtube.com/user/spohnranch2008#p/a/f/0/7FnE8w7jEPk

http://www.youtube.com/user/spohnranch2008#p/a/f/1/lIgfn3Ou-iE

Daytona Beach Skatepark Grand Opening, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Daytona Beach’s premiere action sports facility is officially open!

The Bethune Point Skatepark in Daytona Beach, Florida was officially opened on Saturday November 7th – drawing in hundreds of skaters, families, and curious spectators. The skatepark, called the “finest skatepark in the country” by Recreation Director Percy Williamson, is now open daily for skaters and BMXers to enjoy.

The day’s festivities included speeches by Mayor Glenn Ritchey and City Commissioner Richard Shriver, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, demonstrations from local skaters, and separate BMX and skateboarding contests. Big shout-out to Maui Nix Surf/Skate Shop who ran the contests and donated all of the product for the winners.  Locals Only Surf Magazine also covered the event in their November Issue which can be viewed online here.

Thanks again to everyone who came out to support skateboarding and quality skateparks!

Daybreak Sculpture Garden, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

For the November issue of Recreation Management Magazine, Spohn Ranch Skateparks’ President and Founder, Aaron Spohn, was selected to write a guest column related to skateparks.  As a pioneering figure in the skatepark industry, Aaron has developed an in-depth understanding of what it takes to make a truly great skatepark come to fruition.

Municipal skateparks have come a long way since the early 1990’s and to make sure skateparks keep heading in the right direction, Aaron shared some words of wisdom in this issue with “10 Ways to Maximize your Skatepark”.  Watch for the article in the print version, or read it here on Recreation Management’s website.

Bethune Point Skatepark Daytona Beach, Florida, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

The new Bethune Point skatepark in Daytona Beach, Florida is all finished and set for the official grand opening this Saturday, November 7th at 10 a.m. With the finishing touches on the landscaping completed, this park is going to look amazing! More importantly though, this park is sure to quickly become one of Florida’s premiere action sports facilities – drawing in a wide range of skaters from across the country.

If the secret late-night sessions we’ve been hearing about are any indication, the grand opening is set to be a great day for skating!  See you there!

Daybreak Skateable Art Path featured in Transworld Skateboarding Magazine, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Check out the December issue of Transworld Skateboarding that just hit the shelves! Featured in the “Small Talk” section is an amazing shot by Chriz Ortiz of World Industries’ newest rider Anthony Shetler. Shetler is busting a huge crooked grind on one of our skateable art pieces at the Daybreak Skate Path in South Jordan, Utah. The first of its kind, this unique spot features sculptural pieces integrated along a winding park path – the perfect mix of skating and aesthetics!

Hot Spot Skatepark Official Grand Opening, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

The Hot Spot Skate Park in Spartanburg, SC celebrated it’s official grand opening on October 10, 2009. Plenty of city officials, supporters, volunteers, parents, and skaters showed up for the event. One of the most impressive things with the Hot Spot Skatepark is the level of support from everyone involved. This is NOT one of those parks that was built and then pushed aside. It was a great day!

There were plenty of things going on but the main part of the day was the mini ramp and best trick contest. Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet was on hand to congratulate all of the people involved in making the Hot Spot Skatepark happen. He also officially declared October 10th as Hot Spot Skatepark Day!

Click the photo above, courtesy of our friends at Zigboys Skate Shop, to see all of the action that was going on that day.

Bethune Point Skatepark Daytona Beach, Florida, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Click the photo above to check out shots from the construction progress at Spohn Ranch’s Bethune Point Skatepark in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The skatepark was planned, designed and constructed by Spohn Ranch, co-designed by Pillar Design Studios, featuring pre-cast concrete manufactured by Barkman Concrete, poured-in-place concrete work by Spohn Ranch, and bowl construction by California Skateparks.  With all of the flatwork complete, pre-cast concrete pieces set in place, and bowl construction finished, all the remains is the final landscaping in preparation for the skatepark’s grand opening.

Some of the unique features of this park include a colossal pre-cast concrete clam shell, pre-cast Skateable Art pieces such as the “Roll-Over Whip” and “Broken Pyramid”, and an extra-wide “Bent Penny” pre-cast bank textured with grooves for an innovative real-world skating experience.  By combining these pre-cast pieces with poured-in-place concrete features, a plethora of stairs, hubbas, and rails, and a custom in-ground bowl – we’ve created a diverse skating masterpiece that the skaters of Florida can enjoy for decades to come.

Skateable Art by Spohn Ranch Website Launches, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

We’ve finally launched the stand alone website for our innovative new product line called Skateable Art, which can be found here. Click the link to browse through the site and read about the inspiration, see the catalog of pieces, and discover how the amazing process works.

Rather than relying on the traditional skatepark model, Skateable Art utilizes concrete sculptures to create unique terrain where the innovation of skateboarders can truly flourish. With compelling shapes that rival the work of elite sculptural artists and unique colors and textures, Skateable Art can regenerate any public space. Whether it’s adding on to an existing skatepark or building a park path with a series of pieces, Skateable Art is the perfect solution for multifuctional art that is aesthetically pleasing.

Daytona Beach, Florida Concrete Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Click the photo above to see shots of the construction work in process at Spohn Ranch’s premier skatepark for 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. This 20,000 square foot concrete skatepark is being built through a combination of pre-cast and poured-in-place concrete. By utilizing the advantages of each system, the city of Daytona Beach is truly getting the best of both worlds.

At this point, the majority of the pre-cast elements have been set in place, the poured-in-place bowl has been finished with pool coping, and all that remains is the final flat work. Stay tuned for more updates on the construction progress and the date of the Grand Opening.

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)

Fort Irwin Skatepark Grand Opening, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Click the photo above to see shots of the festivities from the Grand Opening of the new concrete skatepark at the Fort Irwin Military Base in Southern California.

The turnout for the event was unbelievable, with a crowd of over 300 skaters, parents, soldiers, and community members.  Fort Irwin/National Training Center Commanding General Brig. Gen. Robert “Abe” Abrams, son of the legendary General Creighton Abrams, was on hand to give an inspirational speech to the skaters about respecting the park and their fellow skaters.

“There are not enough words to adequately say thank you to each and every one of you for your support of our Fort Irwin Community. People on post can only say wonderful things about the design, the project and the incredible skaters who showed up for the event. Each of you made a huge difference in the lives of our Soldiers and their families yesterday. The skatepark is having a huge impact on our children and soldiers who need a place for recreation.” said Jackie Hoggins, Marketing Chief at Fort Irwin.

Read below for the story of how this skatepark project came to fruition.

Concrete Skatepark at Fort Irwin Military base, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

New Skatepark at Military Base Boosts Soliders’ Morale

Permission to shred sir? Permission granted soldier! With the help of Spohn Ranch Skateparks, the new 15,000 square foot concrete skatepark at the Fort Irwin Military Base in Southern California is being hailed as a tremendous success.

Fort Irwin, located just outside of Barstow in the remote Southern California desert, is the premiere National Training Center for all branches of the US Military. All military personnel being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan must first complete Desert Warfare training at Fort Irwin, which amounts to a large population of soldiers and family members on base looking for ways to occupy their spare time. After the idea of a new skatepark kept popping up at the family advocacy meetings, the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department at Fort Irwin partnered with Spohn Ranch Skateparks, based in Industry, California, to build a skatepark that they could be really proud of.

The “Grind & Shred Skatepark”, as it was named by the skaters on base, replaced a much smaller existing skatepark that consisted of a few inadequate steel ramps. “Working with an experienced skatepark company like Spohn Ranch was very crucial,” said Jackie Hoggins, Marketing Chief at Fort Irwin. “They know the newest trends and how to design a skatepark that skaters young and old will love.” Spohn Ranch has worked with the US Military on skatepark projects across the globe, having completed skateparks at military installations in New Mexico, Japan, and most recently at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.

The skatepark is already being met with tremendous praise because of the benefits it will provide for different groups on base. “For the 12-18 year old age group, which is very difficult to keep entertained, the skatepark will provide the perfect venue for exercising and having fun,” said Maarten Voogd of Water Ventures, the contract holder of the project. With a parental figure absent and traditional sports becoming less popular, activities like skateboarding are a great way to keep kids’ minds focused on something positive. Failing to provide this vulnerable age group with facilities for the activities they enjoy leads to them finding less productive ways to spend their time.

For single soldiers on base who often feel left out of activity planning, the skatepark will also provide a new venue for social interaction and relaxation. Most important of all is the way in which the skatepark will become a critical piece of the family support structure. Soldiers can be much more focused on their work knowing their family is safe and occupying their time with positive activities. “Although it may seem obscure to some, we are proud to do our part in supporting the troops that are fighting for our freedom around the world,” said Aaron Spohn, founder and president of Spohn Ranch Skateparks.

The skatepark’s grand opening is set for Wednesday August 26, and will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, professional demos and a best trick contest.

Skateable Art bench for Gatorade, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Gatorade recently approached us about building benches for the 30 skateparks across the country that are part of the Gatorade Free Flow Tour. We fabricated wave benches made of galvanized steel and surfaced with Skatelite for each skatepark on the tour, which is going on right now. After the tour these benches will be given as gifts to the skateparks, where they will become permanent fixtures.

Click the photo above to see shots of the last Gatorade bench before it was shipped off to the Jaycee Skatepark in Joplin, Missouri.  With the addition of skateboarding phenoms Sean Malto and Chaz Ortiz to its team, Gatorade has made a pretty impressive entrance into the skateboarding world.

Skate Session at Liberty Lake Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

On Saturday August 8th, Free Man skate gear, Merit board shop , and Pyramid skate and print shop put on a demo/session/BBQ at the Liberty Lake Skatepark in Washington.

This photo here is of Mikey Jr. and his grandpa Mike, who were the main driving force behind the skatepark project in Liberty Lake. They also went to the city and parks and recreation department and got permission to have the event. Mike was serving up free drinks and BBQ all day long. Great day in Liberty Lake!

“Being recognized by Inc. Magazine is a great accomplishment, but getting today’s youth off the couch and into safe, engaging recreational facilities is the true reward, “said Kirsten Bradford, CEO of Spohn Ranch.  “It’s great to see that even in an economic recession, cities are still committing funds to recreational facilities for the kids.”

According to Inc. Magazine, Spohn Ranch is one of the “innovating companies that is creating jobs, redefining their industries, and shaping our world.” By branching out into new skatepark genres such as skate plazas and skateable art, Spohn Ranch keeps things fresh and is taking the industry to new levels. “Skateparks have come a long way since the early ‘90s when dropping a few steel ramps on a tennis court was considered building a skatepark,” said Aaron Spohn, founder and president of Spohn Ranch.  Consequently, Spohn frequently works with landscape architects and sculptural artists to create custom, integrated parks that become a showpiece for their communities.  “Approaching cities with a diverse project team shows them that a skatepark is not just something for skaters, but a vibrant public space that can be appreciated by anyone.”

By helping to educate cities on the wide-ranging benefits of a skatepark, Spohn Ranch has attracted more funding towards the skatepark industry, with the end result being more world-class facilities for skaters to enjoy.

Concrete Skatepark at Fort Irwin Military base, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Click the photo above to see shots of the skatepark construction that is in progress over at the Fort Irwin Military Base just outside of Barstow, in Southern California.

The Spohn Ranch construction crew has been working hard under the scorching desert sun to replace a small setup of steel ramps with a 15,000 square foot concrete skatepark. More info on this project and the grand opening will be coming soon.

Skateable Art “Humps” by Spohn Ranch Skateparks, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Check out this Video from Crail Tap of Girl Skateboards pro Jeron Wilson busting a nice benihanna over the hump. Click the photo above to see the rest of the Skateable Art installation in Utah completed by Spohn Ranch back in 2008.

Liberty Lake, Washington Concrete Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Click the photo above to see shots of the recently completed 7,000 square foot concrete skatepark in Liberty Lake, Washington. There’s some great shots of the park that were taken super early in the morning when there were no skaters present, as well as some great action shots from a seperate shoot during the day.

Even with a limited budget and a small site, we were still able to create an amazing park that has everything you need. Rather than cramming the slab full of obstacles, we opted to leave lots of open space for pushing and flat ground. If you’re ever in the Liberty Lake area, this is one park you should definitely check out.

_5314681, originally uploaded by actionparkalliance.

Gatorade recently approached us about making benches for the skateparks that are part of the Gatorade Free Flow Tour. We fabricated wave benches made of galvanized steel and surfaced with Skatelite for each skatepark on the tour, which is going on right now.  After the tour these benches will be given as gifts to the skateparks, where they will become permanent fixtures.

Click the photo above to see shots our friends at the Action Park Alliance took at the Fontana Skatepark.

Westwind Lakes Skatepark, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Click the photo above to see shots of the two new concrete skateparks that we recently completed in the Miami area.

The first one is a 15,000 sq ft concrete skatepark at the Westwind Lakes Park in Miami Dade.  Flowing lines, an abundance of ledges and unique obstacles, and plenty of open space make this a truly enjoyable park.

The second one is 7,200 sq ft concrete skatepark in South Dade.  Although smaller in size, this park is really fun to ride.  One of the coolest features of this park is the wallride that bridges the gap between two big banks.

Both parks were installed using existing concrete slabs, saving both time and money.

As part of the skateboarding holiday’s festivities, Vans has organized a tour of six Southern California skateparks, including Spohn Ranch’s Ambassador Skate Plaza in Los Angeles.

Baytown Skatepark Montage from cody lonidier on Vimeo.

Stay tuned to Fuel TV for video coverage of the skatepark installation.

Dunlap Skatepark Spohn Ranch Concrete Skateparks, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

The Berrics, the most popular skateboarding website in the world, recently hosted the second annual Bang Yo Self! contest on their site. The contest challenged skaters to create a 45 second video with their best footage and post it on the site. The winners were announced yesterday and featured in one of the videos was Spohn Ranch’s very own Dunlap Skatepark in Washington Township, Pennsylvania. Check the footage at the following link (there are a few tricks featured on the slanted manual pad about half-way through the video).

http://theberrics.com/dailyopspost.php?postid=913

Apparently the unique street obstacles built into this park are a hit with the skaters. Click on the photo above for a complete flickr gallery of this innovative skatepark designed and constructed by Spohn Ranch.

Completed ramp, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Since the dawn of time we’ve always known that there’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s, but when it comes to installing mini-ramps, there’s only one right way. That’s why Spohn Ranch was hired in early March for a Reese’s Puffs Cereal television commercial shoot in South Pasadena, California. Spohn Ranch possesses several mini-ramps, half-pipes, and other obstacles that are often rented by companies for video shoots and events. By using Spohn Ranch, these companies do not have to worry about the complications of building or installing a ramp themselves.

After being contacted by the production company, Spohn Ranch’s Mark Bradford and Eddie Osgood got to work – loading the pieces of the ramp from the Spohn Ranch warehouse in the City of Industry onto a truck for transport. After a quick drive to the shooting location, Bradford, Osgood, and the rest of the Spohn Ranch crew unloaded the pieces of the mini-ramp off the truck and carefully carried them into the backyard of a beautiful Pasadena home.

Once in the backyard, the crew began setting up the 6-foot-tall and 18-foot-wide steel ramp in preparation for the Reese’s Puffs’ inspired shredding that would soon occur. Using an innovative truss system designed by Spohn Ranch founder, Aaron Spohn, the ramp was raised to eight feet and then surfaced with a layer of Masonite to achieve a clean cinematic look.

Upon completion of the installation, the ramp was painted with the official Reese’s colors and logos and was finally ready to be skated. The skater hired by Reese’s blasted giant airs with ease and slashed long grinds across the coping for the commercial, which capitalized on the increasing popularity of skateboarding among Reese’s target market. The ramp’s glory was short lived though, after only one day of skating, the ramp was disassembled and returned to the warehouse where it would remain until someone else needed the help of Spohn Ranch for quick and precise mini-ramp installation.

Iguana friend, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Thanks to Spohn Ranch Skateparks, the skatepark at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay Naval Base just got a whole lot better. Guantanamo Bay, known more for its controversial detention camps than its skateboarding scene, is located in southeastern Cuba and was taken under U.S. control in 1903. As part of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Program (MWR), the U.S. military hired Spohn Ranch to enhance their current skatepark with the construction of a pre-cast SpohnCrete ™ bowl and a skateable art piece known as a “half-moon” bank. By using Spohn’s state-of-the-art technology, the U.S. military knew they could make their facilities on par with stateside skateparks, and improve their ability to raise the morale of the sailors, their families, and the entire Guantanamo community.

After being chosen for this project in February 2009, the Spohn Ranch team flew from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where they boarded a small twin-engine airplane and began their journey towards the United States’ oldest overseas Navy Base. Upon arrival at the Naval Base, the team observed their stunning surroundings and waited for the colossal barge containing their pre-cast concrete pieces.

Once the barge pulled into the port, Mark Bradford, construction supervisor, immediately began executing the construction plan. Using a 100-ton crane, they transported the sections of the concrete bowl off the barge and onto a concrete slab near the existing skatepark. Then Bradford worked with a local crew made up of Jamaicans and Filipinos to set the pieces in place, pour concrete into the floor of the bowl, perform grout work, and create a top deck. Throughout this process, the local kids watched and waited with gleeful anticipation for the moment they could drop in and begin carving around the smooth corners of the bowl. In addition to the Spohncrete ™ bowl, Bradford and the local construction workers also transported the pre-cast concrete half-moon bank off the barge and seamlessly integrated it into the existing skatepark.

Spohn Ranch’s commitment to the soldiers’ back-smith grinds and promotion of skateboarding around the world rang true when they accepted this unique opportunity. When it was all said and done, the Spohn team left Guantanamo Bay having made significant and unique upgrades to the skatepark in less than a week. These improvements also came just in time for a demo at the park that featured the talents of professional skateboarder Mimi Knoop, which was sure to boost the morale of the Guantanamo community. For further information on this project, stay tuned to Fuel TV for complete video coverage documenting the production process.

Spohn Ranch – the future of skatepark design? | Blog | HUCK Magazine, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

The blokes over at the UK’s Huck Magazine seem to like our skateable art pieces.

We’ve putting in installations across the country – turning pedestrian paths into mixed-use skateable areas.

This not only creates mixes public sculpture with modern skatespots, but also integrates skaters into the community and recognizes skating as a healthy and legal activity.

Here’s to more skateparks without fences!

Concrete Skatepark Designs – a set on Flickr, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

We’ve been getting together our best designs (for a variety of budget levels and site conditions) to help skatepark committees in their planning process.

These parks run the gamut from street plazas, to bowls, to skateable art.

To see bigger images, please click here to view the full gallery.

Brownsville Bowl with Pool Coping, originally uploaded by spohnranchskateparks.

Late last year Brownsville, TX had a grand opening for the new Spohn Ranch concrete skatepark there.

The park has some nice features – complex bowl with spine, pool coping, granite manual pads, granite benches, granite ledges, brick banks, etc…

Check out this video from the grand opening:

The skateboarding bulldog!, originally uploaded by theMaykazine.

Spohn Ranch was proud to provide the ramp course for Natural Balance’s float in the Rose Parade, featuring the skateboarding bulldogs Tillman and Tyson.

After building the course at our Los Angeles fabrication shop, we got to host various training sessions where the bulldogs came out to practice.

Again, Spohn Ranch is the #1 choice to build high profile action sports structures, whether human or canine.