Author Archives: Ruth Plater

The highly anticipated Ernest McBride Skatepark, a collaboration between LA-based Spohn Ranch Skateparks, ASK Long Beach and the City of Long Beach, California, hosted an official grand opening ceremony on Saturday February 11th. The day’s festivities included a ribbon cutting ceremony, speeches from Long Beach skatepark advocates and City Council members, and a 45-minute inaugural demo featuring several of Long Beach’s esteemed professional skateboarders. Spohn Ranch recently completed construction of the skatepark. The 9,000 square foot skatepark is state-of-the-art, featuring integrated cobblestone and landscaping, sculptural elements and recreations of Long Beach's urban skateboarding landmarks, most notably the famed Belmont Plaza planters which were demolished a few years ago. By far the most compelling and significant aspect of this design, however, is the inclusion of the letters “LBC” in the banked wall.  The larger-than-life letters rise up out of the park as an instantly recognizable symbol of Long Beach’s dedication to quality skateboarding.  With a sculptural aesthetic not found in any other skatepark, these letters singlehandedly elevate this skatepark to iconic proportions.  Empowering the local skaters with the knowledge and pride that their community is special, these letters will further unite Long Beach’s skaters and cement the City’s place in skateboarding history. Tony Hawk himself made an appearance, much to the excitement of his fans. His non-profit organisation donated $40,000 to the project for equipment and support. The park is located at 1520 Martin Luther King Ave and the ceremony. If you're nearby...check it out.