My Beach. My Wave.
February 17th, 2007 by Kilwag
Yeah, I’ll take any excuse to get in a good Surf Punks reference. The City of Santa Cruz has a brand new skatepark ready to open on February 22nd. As part of the public art provision of the Parks Board, the full pipe was designed to look like a wave. Making a required public art portion of a skatepark actually skateable has been done before. It’s a great idea. everyone should do it. Links and more pics of Mike Fox park after the jump. [Photos: Wormhoudt - Source: Sleestak]
Santa Cruz Mike Fox Park Skatepark
At 15,000 square feet, it seems a little small for a town with that much skateboarding history. Then again maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise since it’s own namesake is about to get kicked out of the city. Opening day is set for February 22nd. Check out the city’s official web site for park details, including the links to the public art proposals. So far I haven’t seen a recent picture from a view that would show whether or not the top of the pipe was painted to look like a wave.
Who made it? Why Wormhoudt, Inc. The riding surfaces have been died or stained blue, which works well with the wave motif. Also blue is this model sculpted out of styrofoam. I wonder if that was done by hand or CAD. Anyone know?
February 21st, 2007 at 9:02 am
We finished the wave art Sunday. Stained the wave twice, placed a blasting mat on it, a large blow up of Jimbo’s art, thay art wasn’t large enough so we split it down the middle and spread it. Jimbo hand drew the middle directly on the mat. It took 4-5 people all day to cut the mat. The next day we sand blasted it then hand painted and rolled a sealer coat on. 20 years later the long await Santa Cruz Skate park.
Take good care of it and have fun.
Skater for Life.
February 21st, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Super cool Judi, thanks for sharing the images (click her name in the comment). Looks like the “tile strip” is stamped into the concrete? The detail work in the park looks great.
February 21st, 2007 at 1:59 pm
If all goes as planned I hope to be there 1st or 2nd week in April. I was born and raised in that area and have not been back since 1981 this is as good a reason as any to get back to my old stomping grounds. I am so stoked!
February 21st, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I’ll be interested to hear how that is. That full-pipe looks narrow. Artistic conceit vs. skateability, did these people just totally miss Modernism?
February 21st, 2007 at 10:41 pm
For the size of the park we have some good size bowls. The pool reminds me of Winchester. The Pipe is 18 foot. Smooth as glass and fun. Reminds me of old Upland. Wish we had it when I was 20 years younger. Oh well. I’ll be still giving in a try.
Yes it is stamped concrete. 330 linear feet of real coping in the Wave pool. Over vert section and a fun pool in the front for the old folks like me.
Enjoy.