Long live the Turf
Midwest skaters over a certain age have a fond spot in their hearts for The Turf skatepark in Milwaukee. Covered once in the 80’s and then uncovered and re-opened only to be shut down again in the 90’s. Filled with dirt, but not destroyed. The Nude bowl has been dug out so many times, why not the Turf? Last year was the 30th anniversary of the Turf. There were rumors about the property being available, but they proved untrue. We used to be able to dream, but now the final death knell has rung. The land that holds the once beloved concrete is being repurposed into a freeway onramp (Curse you I-94!) or possibly-a-park and ride structure for mass transit. Beer City skateboards has some shots of the excavation, and reader Martin Defatte sent in his own shots after the jump. Bonus video section of the Turf From Streets on Fire too.
Tile from the clover.
Keyhole in the foreground, clover in the background. SOmeone get out a tape measure and get those dimensions for posterity. Where are the shots of the capsule?
I wonder if Mike Giguere ever made it back.
The Turf as seen in Streets on Fire.
wow
that really does bring tears to my eyes.
i always had hope that someday it may be excavated, even though common sense led me to think it would be cheaper to just build replicas.
whatever, i still have the memories…
-member since ’87.
Those shots you see of the bowl with water are the roll in and part of the capsule.
Damn that is sad. That was the 1st plane trip for skateboarding I ever took. I had to lie about my age to get in
Ha! Same here. Although by car not plane. I also had to lie about my age.
I can’t believe the bowls are still intact under the dirt. I thought that shit was gone for sure.
Luckily I got to skate it back in 1992 – first indoor concrete skatepark I had ever skated. I was so stoked as I had flown over from Germany to visit my brothers in Detroit. Another friend of mine flew over a few days later and we decided to find the Turf and find it we did!
Can not wait to get up there today and help with the digging.
Grab me a clover tlle!!
Hit that every winter, from 1988 until 1994. Drove from Toronto every February for the concrete therapy.
I still have the local favourite “Big Ugly” copers, that you could put on your trucks backwards, so you were actually grinding aluminum instead of plastic!!
For sure, measure the clover!!
Who has done the digging so far? Is there a plan? Somebody should organize this. I know myself, and some guys that would be down to help for sure.
Don’t care about street cred….here’s my park card….this is sad
Seeing this just made me cringe ….. again. 🙁
You can wash my balls with a warm wet rag the turf sucked.
Couple more pics of gully dig out here: http://www.wiskate.com
Got so worked there, and loved it. I have membership cards still too. ’88 – ’90. Downer.
Al Partanen grew up there, he should use his Nike contacts to save this.
Speaking of the Turf, does anyone have a copy of the promo spec sheet that they had about the park back in 78-79 when they first announced the park opening. Skateboarder magazine had a coupon for Surf n. Turf in the December 78 issue (I think). We went up there to see if it was open, but at that time they only had a trailer with promo info and construction drawings/plans. I remember a flyer that had all the info on the bowls/features. If anyone has one of these, scan it and post it.
That place was great… so fucken fun. Cool locals too, The Beaudoins, Big ole Oz… really cool memories.
That place was among the best spots ever . Best of luck with the resurrection .
Sure would like to double axle grind the extensions of the capsule again .
Weightlessness is what it was about .
Do It