News

WESTSIDE COMMUNITY SKATEPARK OPENS TO THE PUBLIC - 7/8/2009

westside_opens_4shot

Hundreds of enthusiastic skaters joined city officials to cut the ribbon and celebrate El Paso's second high quality, concrete skatepark at Westside Community Park (7400 High Ridge) near Franklin High School. SEE EVENT PHOTOS.

"Thanks for being so patient," said El Paso Parks Director Nanette Smejkal. The 12,600 square foot facility took 4 months to construct and cost $457,000 - paid for with money from the 2000 Quality of Life bond election.

Prior to the dedication, the pros and bros from the Sugar Skateboard team performed a demo for the large crowd, some of them perched atop shade canopies for a better view. Team leader Marco says they were videotaping the event as part of special for Fuel TV.

"The original plan was for this skatepark was a flat slab with modular ramps. But give a lot of credit to Parks for listening to the skaters and embracing our vision," said Paul Zimmerman, EPSA President. "A lot of people ask about our slogan "tienes concrete?" and what it means. It's all about building better skateparks and concrete is where it's at."

After all the dignitary stuff, it was time to skate. Traffic was heavy and energy was pumping. "The clam bowl is awesome," said Jeremiah Risk, a high-flying skater from Temecula, CA. Risk, who drives an 18-wheeler for WWE, says he was just passing thru when he heard about the grand opening.

Crooks skateshop held a best trick contest on the park's step up/handrail/hubba section. The open jam was won by local Rocky Chavez - his prize winnings were tossed into the crowd.

Thanks to the media for helping spread the good word. KVIA-TV's Doppler Dave Speelman did live weather hits at 4 and 5, but had to bail out on the 6 o'clock show after his video camera guy got bonked in the head by a loose board. Univision 26, KFOX, KDBC, KTSM and the El Paso Times also provided media coverage.

The skatepark's cornerstone is a 6 foot bowl that hips into an "A-framed" 8.5 foot clamshell deep end with Federal Stone pool coping. The L-shaped street course includes two stair sets (5 stair & 3 stair), a step up gap, hip banks,ledges, nipple bump, quarter pipe and a long China bank.

The original skatepark budget was about $200,000 (and shrinking!) But both the design concept and budget morphed considerably along the way. SEE CONSTRUCTION PHOTO STORY. Seth Johnson of Ideal Skateparks designed the skatepark's footprint (pro-bono), EPSA suggested refinements and Mijares-Mora Architects (Steve Dominguez and Rob Parker) made the blue prints. Thanks to general contractor CSA and Breaking Ground Skateparks (from Rhode Island) for all the hard work building this skatepark on some rather rocky, challenging terrain - the kids are gonna love it!

 

2009 DECK ART FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS! - 5/6/2009

2009 Deck Art Show fundraiser at Marco Polo

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2009 Skate Deck Art Show a huge success! Our silent auction held May 6th at Marco Polo Dive Bar raised more than $2,500 to promote the development and stewardship of safe, freely accessible public skateparks in the El Paso area. See event photos.

The most sought after decks were auctioned live. Allain Angelos’s “Pop Scullsicle” created the biggest competition going live at $105 and eventually selling for $200 – thanks GQ!

The highest grossing deck, Theron Nicholson’s “Urban Gorilla” made with India ink and oil glaze, sold for $251. Local skate legend Jaime Favela’s rustic-looking “r evolution” displayed a progression of wheels (from wood to clay to urethane) and went for $150. See deck art.

Our youngest artist was 4-year old Mya Celeste Salgado and the strangest creation was a late-entry made from 60 popsicle sticks by Tim Fulmer.

 

SUNLAND PARK COUNCIL APPROVES SKATE PLAZA SITE, SAVES FUNDING - 2/17/2009

Sunland Park council meeting 2/17/09

The Sunland Park City Council has unanimously approved a $1 million sports complex to include a 36,000 square foot DC Rob Dyrdek skate plaza. The $900,000 skate plaza will be located next to Santa Teresa Middle School at 4700 McNutt. See design concept.

Council's approval of the site location moves the stalled skate plaza project forward. It should end fears that the $4-million grant to build the sports complex could be reclaimed by the State of New Mexico. In October 2008, Governor Bill Richardson issued an Executive Memo asking cities to list stalled projects for deauthorization.

The sports complex site was to have been voted on at a council meeting on Feb. 3, but a string of meeting cancellations was a call to action for angry skaters and residents. About 100 people, including about two dozen children and teenagers, attended the meeting to support the complex. Some teenagers held posters that read "No more excuses, no more delays" and "We refuse to lose funding due to your delays."

During the meeting Tuesday, resident Aggie Montoya said the large number of people who attended the meeting showed the support of the public for the complex. "You can see how important the sports complex is to our children and our community. That's the reason why all of these children came out today, and we really, really need to get this project going," she said as the crowd clapped. See meeting photo story.

Planning for the project began seven years ago, but the project was then delayed by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Historic Preservation Division for more than a year because archaeological ruins were found on the 60 acres where the complex will be built. About two months ago, the agency announced that the city could continue with construction.

Next, the project moves into the request for proposal contracts phase with grading of the land possible by Fall 2009.

 

Skate Art Deck Auction and Fundraiser - February 2008

What's Up 2-27-08

Here is an article about the EPSA Skate Art Deck Auction on February 28,2008 at the oLo Gallery. The El Paso Skatepark Association is hoping to turn the natural relationship between skate and art into funds for some much-needed repairs to El Paso’s skate parks.

 

EPSA in What's Up - August 2007

What's Up 8-1-07

Check out a story on the El Paso Skatepark Association from What's Up magazine in El Paso (Volume 8, No. 44 - August 1-8, 2007) as there is a nice article about the EPSA, specifically with the Z-man, Paul Zimmerman. It is a great read and even has a picture of the Dr. throwing an invert at Carolina skatepark.