After countless fundraisers consisting of bowling nights, spaghetti dinners and even a marathon, the community of Armada, Michigan is the definition of perseverance. This summer, the hard work of Armada Bike and Skatepark Foundation finally came to fruition as Spohn Ranch began construction of the new concrete skatepark.
The Township of Armada, a small country town known as the pearl of Macomb County, is about an hour north of Detroit and attracts 650,000 visitors annually for the beautiful apple orchards, flea markets and the Armada Fair.
The story is the same in every small town. Youth involved in action sports don’t have a place to call their own and the local municipality has limited funding to design and build a skatepark.
In 2011, the community rallied together and began participating in a contest sponsored by Reader’s Digest called “We Hear You America”. Armada placed third out of 4,000 communities and received a grant that propelled the project forward.
Shortly thereafter, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit was formed, aptly named Armada Bike and Skatepark Foundation. Noting the group’s determination, the Township offered to match anything the non-profit could raise. For the next 5 years, the Foundation campaigned, fundraised and raffled to collect donations.
Fast forward to 2017, Armada Township hires Spohn Ranch – world-renowned skatepark designer and builder. Acting as the prime contractor, Spohn Ranch will execute the skatepark project from start to finish – including stormwater management, earthwork, steel fabrication and specialty concrete/shotcrete.
When complete, the Armada Bike and Skatepark will encompass 6,000 square feet. Armada has a large BMX population, so this project is a bit more BMX-focused than our typical project, but it will still cater to all wheeled sports.
The design is centered around a 4′-6’ transition section featuring a spine, cradle and extension. It will also include modern street elements such as a double set, handrail, ledges and an A-frame. A hitching post specifically designed for BMX bikes is the cherry on top.
The skatepark will be located behind the Township’s firehouse and adjacent to Armada Middle School.
The Armada Skatepark Address is:
75400 North Avenue
Armada, MI 48005
Construction is scheduled to wrap in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for updates!
UPDATE: The park is finished, check out the finished Armada Skatepark
