The Turf Saktepark

Turf re-birth?

Word is that the lease is up on the tenant that currently resides in the building that houses Milwaukee’s famed Turf Skatepark. I erroneously reported that the concrete had been demoed, but I guess the truth lies closer to some missing coping and a lot of landfill. I here to report on the rumor that there people in Wisconsin working on trying to get a third lease on life for the Turf Skatepark. If there’s no truth to that rumor, then I’m here to start it, in hopes that someone who still lives in the area will get stoked. The Turf still lives in more than memories and photos, a crew of BMXers has the old miniramp from the Turf. At the risk of becoming very unpopular, I was watching some video of that park and it made me think that perhaps the fond memories have more to do with nostalgia than the quality of the terrain, especially compared to the modern crop of skateparks. Still, I’d be all for digging it up and slapping some new coping on. I hope it happens.

Photos – Clockwise: Old exterior shot from Thrasher Magazine, as found on the Facebook page for Pete D’s 30 year anniversary Turf photo show. Next – Tod Swank from one of Pete D’s photos from his Turf photostream on Flickr. Bottom Row – Video stills from some old videos shot at the Turf, circa 1989, found at MNTRS.com.

UPDATE: FALSE! The lease is not up. Check it.

Discussion

7 thoughts on “Turf re-birth?

  1. Luuuuuuuuuke!

  2. Skipping biology class to go there with you was what prompted my mother to infamously advise “Brad, you need to eliminate the “Randys” from your life.”

  3. I drive up to Longview every so often just to ride the 1975 snake run. Something about doing tricks invented long after the terrain was conceived is really cool.. almost like I’m ghost hunting.

    I was planning a trip to Pocatello until I heard it’s pretty much impossible to sneak into that one.

  4. Since I live fairly close, I feel it is my duty to swing by and find out about who is leasing/phone # that I will post. -Turf member J.Janke 88′

  5. William on August 13, 2010 - Reply

    The Turf has a chance. Check out savetheturf.com. Milwaukee Skateboard Association just got all the copyrights and trademarks. City of Greenfield said we’re first in line for the property after state does construction. Just need money for rebuild. No reason that won’t happen. Too many people want it.

    1. Milwaukee Skateboard Association- Check us out on facebook and also support our website- http://www.savetheturf.com

      We are a not-for-profit organization that is having our first benefit show on sept. 10th at cactus club mke!

      Thanks for your support!

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