VANS skate spot promoVans is  making a  splash at this year’s SXSW festival. They’re sponsoring some parties and bringing pro’s to come skate and barbecue at Mabel Davis. Additionally, they’re raising funds to help  support local DIY efforts by the Austin Public Skatepark Action Committee.

For every shoe purchased until the 25th of this month at one of their two Austin-area stores, $5 goes to purchase materials for a DIY skate spot project. The first project will be a simple concrete mini-ramp in Patterson Park. Dave Reynold’s, of Lonestar Skateparks, has provided the construction documents that the city is currently reviewing. More details below.

Patterson Park Skate Spot Project

Really, this needs to be on the APSAC site, but I’m throwing this together quickly to get it online so most ASN reader questions can get answered right away.

This is a permission DIY project to be built by volunteers on or around April 14th, pending approval by the City of Austin. All donations collected are to be applied to purchasing materials. No labor is to be compensated. Donations collected: $760 from the fundraiser at Beer Land. $2300 from the Austin Parks Foundation grant program. And $700 from Austin’s Frog Design company. However much money comes from the Vans promotion will determine how large a miniramp can be built. Excess funds will be applied to a TBD future skate spot project (probably a street spot in a public park).

This project will not appear on the Ideal Skateparks resume. Dave deserves credit for Lonestar providing the design document, though.

 Article in the National Parks and Recreation Association magazine about the skate spot concept.

Design submitted to the City of Austin.

Speaking of public park improvements, I received a note from a member of Austin’s PARD suggesting lighting might be installed at Mabel Davis in May.

Cajun ollieOh, and there’s a cool article in today’s Statesman gushing all over the new Grindline bowl in Round Rock. Way to go, Shannon, for the fake name and the backside ollie over the hip. Jack also got some good quotes in there along with the Alternator. I suppose Jeff Little provided a translation for the reporter.