Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Skate Park Crowns Piedras Corridor

El Paso Skate Park Association Director, Paul Zimmerman, talks to reporters after the dedication ceremony last Friday.

Last Friday, skateboard enthusiasts, Mayor Cook, Rep. Susie Byrd, EPWU officials and police officers came together to dedicate the new Van Buren skateboard park and storm water dam just off Piedras.  Rep. Byrd had seen similar skate parks so, when the PSB/EPWU was working on plans to upgrade the old Van Buren dam, she approached CEO Ed Archuleta with the idea to build a dual purpose open space park. Archuleta quickly agreed. John Balliew, EPWU's Vice-President of Engineering and Operations, went right to work overseeing the skate park dam project. With suggestions from El Paso Skate Park Association Director Paul Zimmerman, the project was completed as a dual purpose storm water dam and skate park. The park crowns the Piedras business corridor and joins public parks from Memorial to Newman to Grandview that enhance recreation for Central El Pasoans especially residents in the Newman Park, Central and Manhattan Heights Neighborhood Associations. Because of Rep. Byrd's vision, many are beginning to ask whether the park wouldn't be better named the Susie Byrd Open Space Park.


EPWU CEO Ed Archuleta points out some engineering details of the skate park dam to Rep. Susie Byrd.


Skateboarder takes one of the first "rides" at the dam.


El Paso Skate Park Association video. Engineers build great dams. But, can they do this?

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