I started working on a project in Los Angles County at Amelia Mayberry Park over a year ago while I was still at Stantec. Our team that included Colby Carter and Mary Soria worked with RJM Design Group and LANT to develop a skatepark that really reflected what the local skaters really wanted and needed. The several times I hung out and skated with everyone there at the Rec Center I realized that was their skatepark. The sidewalk, curbs, and parking blocks were the Goto spots for about 40 skaters on any given day. It became very clear to me they needed lots of space and room to navigate some easy to hit ledges, flat bar, and bank combos to keep speed. Throw in some Quarter Pipes and a nice crossover sized bowl that anyone can enjoy and you have an amazing neighborhood skatepark. Colby, myself, and the rest of the design team nailed the layout and general features right away after we looked at all the feedback with everyone.
After I joined New Line Skateparks we finished out the project by getting every detail worked out In the blueprints for a qualified skatepark contractor to build. That is the part that is critical... Getting all the dimensions and spacing right as well as the right materials to hold up to lots of daily abuse.
One thing people under-estimate is making sure you visit the site during construction to make sure everything is being built to spec. Once all the concrete is down it really is critical to be able to ride through the park to see how it feels under 52mm wheels because they feel everything that is not perfectly smooth. On this day last week Chris Long and myself obsessed over every inch of the park looking for things that needed to be addressed before the skatepark opens just before Christmas 2019.
In 2019 there really is no excuse for skateparks to not ride the way they were intended to after all the years of trial and error to get things right. Riding so many skate spots while I was travelling the world as professional skateboarder you learn a lot. Now focusing on designing skateparks for the last 13 years, I still am learning a lot travelling and riding so many different places with so many different people, it is a reminder that we can never stop learning.
Happy to say this park definitely rides amazing! I am so hyped for what the future holds for all the local skaters that live near this skatepark.
