Arizonas first skate park got a face lift for Cowtown skateshops 10th anniversary PHX AM contest. California skateparks added a new extension with peep hole and a poured concrete lip as well as removing the old pyramid and replacing it with a much larger one that has hubbas, rails, euro gaps and stairs. The contest was sick as usual with Ben Hatchell winning it with blunt kick flip fakie and 540s on the extension! Well deserved. We went back the following weekend to check it out for ourselves and had a blast. The kids are still figuring out the flow as they take advantage of the street obstacles but are afraid to step to the bigger transitions. This creates a bit of a smash factor as you will have to eventually dodge people standing at the bottom of the trannies waiting to hit ledges or the pyramid. Being it was a weekend made it a lot more crowded as well. The park is super fun again and is definately a must hit if your coming to town. Cowtown has done a rad job in showing love to the O.G. spot with the addition of a bowl a few years back built by Shaggy and the Grindline crew, this with the new additions make it stand out from the rest of the parks in AZ. See you out there, Baker.
All images by Bakerface, Jason Schooley, grind in the over vert cradle, Charlie Blair, stalefish, Andrew Langi, Madonna and Curren Caples with a tucknee.
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone,
ReplyDeleteAs some of you may know, the city manager's trial budget contains a reduction that is threatening to close the Desert West Community Center effective July 1, 2014. We are asking you to spread the word, and get Maryvale residents to call or email their comments on the cuts to support Desert West. The Budget & Research Department’s e-mail address is budget.research@phoenix.gov and the public comment phone number is 602-262-4800. These are public forms of contact set up to take and compile public comments on the city manager's trial budget.
Desert West Community Center, located in the park of the same name (6501 W. Virginia), is a full-service, all ages community center that has been serving the Maryvale area for more than 20 years. The center offers a wide range of services including over 225 general interest classes, sports leagues and programs. Their amenities emphasize positive social norms, provide warm and supportive relationships and bonding with adult mentors, support the development of skills and interests of residents, provide opportunities to become involved in positive activities in which they can develop cognitive, social and emotional competence, promote positive physical development, and provide opportunities for engagement in the community. (Please review attachment for complete list of activities)
These are all protective factors that help prevent youth from engaging in risky behaviors like drug abuse and violence. Moreover, closing this park would provide an unsupervised space for youth with nothing better to do.
The choice is ours! If you or any other Maryvale resident in opposition with the closing of Desert West Community Center, please call or email the City of Phoenix Budget & Research Department.