Portsmouth, Ohio’s skatepark dreams are coming to life in 2021! The small city on the southern edge of Ohio, near both the Kentucky and West Virginia borders, has been pursuing a skatepark for several years, knowing the positive impact it could have on a community hit hard by the opioid epidemic.
Spearheaded by Councilperson Sean Dunne, the project took its biggest leap yet when Spohn Ranch was hired for skatepark design-build services in late 2020 via a nationwide search of the industry’s best.
Our first task was creating a skatepark design while coordinating with a diverse mix of groups, including City officials, local skateboarders and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who manages the levee adjacent to the skatepark footprint at Portsmouth’s Weghorst Park. The final skatepark design skillfully balances the needs of the project’s unique stakeholder groups and features many of Spohn Ranch’s signature design principles – smart flow, ample spacing and a blend of street and transition elements. The depth of the bowl is limited by restrictions form the Army Corps, but remains fun with several hips, a waterfall and a cradle/extension.
Construction blueprints are currently under review by the Army Corps and skatepark construction is targeted to start as soon as the weather becomes favorable. Stay tuned for updates!
Click here to view other Skatepark Designs.
