There’s a street in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana, that’s name will now be forever enshrined in the annals of skate history. It’s a name we’re sure local town planners now regret choosing –Stoner Avenue –and its home to all the little skate misfits in the region thanks to a brand new Skate Plaza. The second such project by pro skater Rob Dyrdek after the success of a similar much-hyped Plaza in Kettering, the Stoner Avenue park at Shreveport officially opened March 28 2006 after having broken first ground in December ‘05.
“I'm excited to make the trip out to Shreveport for this new plaza,” said Rob. “The city has been so diligent in this process from day one and now, less than 4 months after they broke ground, the plaza is ready to skate. I hope that other cities see this as an example of how easy it is to create a plaza for their skateboarders.”
Shreveport may be the second city to build a skate plaza with help from The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation, but the project was initially spearheaded by the City of Shreveport itself, who sought to take progressive approach on skateboarding for their community after a law was passed in 2002 prohibiting skating in Shreveport’s central business district. Banned from the tempting variety of jumps, stairs, ramps and concrete blocks downtown, officials cited damage to the city structures which eventually caused the passing of an ordinance that comes with fines of up to $200. But by prohibiting skating on public roadways, Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower knew the city needed to provide another venue for its skateboarding community instead, so funds were immediately funnelled so the process of building the skate plaza could begin.
Covering 12,500 feet on the banks of the Red River, the Plaza boasts two manual pads, three sets of stairs with different rail set-ups, eight ramps, round and square low rails, and twelve benches the plaza provides tons of elements for the modern street skateboarder. But best of all? The Shreveport Skate Plaza will also feature lights allowing skating 24 hours a day, and doesn’t charge skaters a penny to ride the joint.
Downsides? The Plaza was designed by a city architect instead of local skaters, which could have been disastrous. Designer Tim Wachtel, a planner with SPAR, had several 'rap' sessions with local skaters, talked with skate park developers all over the country, read skate magazines and connected with Rob Dyrdek to create the final plan. And for the most part, he and the skaters think he got it right –except for a few pesky details. For all his hard research, he left a stair jump with a grassy landing and some unfortunately placed cracks in the concrete slabs, which had some of the freeloaders attending opening day whining and complaining.
When the crowd of about 500, including at least 150 skateboarders, ages 5 to 35, gathered for the grand opening and demonstration by pro skateboarders Dyrdek, Josh Kalis and Greg Myers, above their cheers a few grumbles were heard.
"This won't stop everyone from skating downtown," said Travis Nielsen, 20, to reporters from The Shreveport Times, adding many other skaters thought cracks in the concrete were just too big. "The large cracks are everywhere."
The nearly inch-and-a-half expansion joints in the concrete on the upper deck of the plaza in front of every stair element are what skaters were talking about. A discarded metal sign was placed over one crack to get a smooth transition for a jump down the steps or a jump up to the rail. "They could have pushed the cement out wider at the bottom too," said Matt Cole, 15, before making another go for the stairs. "As soon as you land you hit grass and that doesn't make for a good video. But it's cool. I'm glad [the Plaza] is here."
Wachtel, on the sidelines watching the skateboarders on opening day, said; "I don't know about the complaint on the cracks. Concrete needs cracks!"
Dyrdek, 31, who helped Wachtel with the design elements, felt the cracks were a small detail in the larger picture. "It's a case study. This is the first time a city architect has designed a skatepark with the help of skateboarders," said Dyrdek.
But cracks or no, City leaders are hoping folks from the area and outside town will come and check out the park, which for the most part is scoring wildly positive attention for a community built skatepark. "We are thinking it will draw some people from out of town," Watchtel said. "People travel to skate. If somebody wants to come here, that's a plus."
Seems like the Plaza will be an incredibly positive addition to the city of Shreveport… despite the crack problem on Stoner Avenue!